04/03/2019

Learning Theories
Lecture 18
Operant Conditioning: Learning
Based on Consequences

4 Processes determine the probability of the

occurrence of certain behaviour Punishment
• A procedure by which the application or
removal of a stimulus decreases the strength
of a behaviour
Strengthen/Increase Weaken/Decease the • It is defined as the opposite of reinforcement
the Rate of behaviour Rate of behaviour since it is designed to weaken or eliminate a
response rather than increase it
• Reinforcement • Punishment
• Positive reinforcers • Positive • It is an aversive event that decreases the
• Negative reinforcers • Negative behaviour that it follows

Positive Punishment Negative Punishment

The rate of a behaviour is

Behaviours are followed weakened or decreased
by the aversiveness of
by aversive stimulus loss of potential
events termed punishers
reinforcements

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Reinforcement Punishment
(Increasing the Desirable (Decreasing Undesirable
Behaviour) Behaviour)

Positive Adding something to Adding something to

(Adding) Increase behaviour decrease behaviour

Negative Subtracting something to Subtracting something to

(Subtracting) increase behaviour decrease behaviour

Skinner’s Experiment

Skinner’s ‘Analysis of Behaviour’/ ABC of Operant Basic Principles # Shaping & Chaining
Conditioning Application:
Shaping Chaining Programmed
The analysis of behaviour requires an accurate but neutral Learning
representation of the relationship or contingencies between:
• A technique in • A procedure that • Based on Shaping
which close and establishes a sequence and Chaining
Antecedents closer of responses, which
lead to a reward • Assumes that any

(the stimulus
Consequence approximations to
desired behaviour
following the final task can be broken
down in to small
conditions; ex. the Behaviours (what happens as a are required for the
response in the chain
• Can be forward and steps
lever, the click of the result of the operant delivery of positive backward • Does not involve
sound dispenser, a (or Operants, ex. reinforcements
behaviour- • Can be used to teach punishment
Pressing the lever)
light that may go on reinforcement or complex behaviour • It reinforce correct
when the lever is punishment) patterns to animals response
pressed)

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Basic Principles # Schedules of Reinforcement

Teaching a child how to use a spoon

Schedules of
reinforcement 5 types of schedules

• Rules determining when and • Continuous Reinforcement

how reinforcement will be • Fixed-Interval
delivered • Variable-Interval Partial/
Intermittent
• Ex. ‘Happy hour’, discounts • Fixed-Ratio Reinforcement
on specific days etc.
• Variable-Ratio

Continuous
Reinforcement Fixed- Interval Variable-Interval Fixed-Ratio Variable-Ratio
Schedules Schedules Schedules Schedules Schedules

A schedule of
A schedule of reinforcement A schedule of
A schedule of reinforcement in which a reinforcement
reinforcement in which a in which Reinforcement
variable is delivered
in which every specific interval reinforcement
occurrence of a amount of after a variable
of time must time must occurs only number of
particular elapse before a elapse before a after a fixed
behaviour is response will number of response have
response will been performed
reinforced yield responses have
yield
reinforcement reinforcement been emitted