PSY 1101 Lecture Notes - Lecture 15: Operant Conditioning Chamber, Walden Two, Reinforcement
19 Dec 2016
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last lesson on midterm — Thursday, November 17th, 2016
J. Watson & B. F. Skinner
-Watson laid out basic tenets of the science of behaviour.
-psychology should be the study that which is overtly observable — behaviour.
-the study of that which is not observable soul, mind, consciousness, repressed memories… is banned.
-Skinner 1930s-1990
-*invented the coffee break — Nescafe “Good ‘till the lsat drop”
-Books : “About Behaviourism” “Walden Two” “Beyond Freedom & Dignity”
Classical Conditioning
Association is formed between two previously unrelated stimuli (UCS + CS)
-Observer learns that one stimulus is associated with another stimulus.
Operant Conditioning
Association is formed between a stimulus (S) and a response (R).
Association is formed between the response and the subsequent consequence of responding.
-Strict operational definitions and observation of : stimulus, response, and the consequences of
responding.
If an organism continues to respond to a stimulus it is because it has been reinforced (Cr).
-Skinner Box — a highly controlled environment; all aspects of behaviour are controlled.
-e.g.: mouse, light, speaker, water, food dispenser (dispenses food when bar is pushed down by
mouse).
-use of pigeon in bombs and the military (could memorize targets, etc.)
-dependent measure: rate of responding.
-prior to conditions, measure baseline rate of responding.
-does the rate of responding increase following learning? If so, the behaviourist can say why.
-shaping (successive approximations of responses)
-Stimulus—Response—Reinforcement
-following learning, the rate of responding increases dramatically.
The Principle of Operant Conditioning:
-reinforcement is contingent on the organism’s responding.
-if it does not respond correctly, it does not get reinforced.
-Note the political implications - skinner has been used as the model for American capitalism.
Types of reinforcers
increases the rate of responding
-there are two types:
-positive and negative which both increases the rate of responding.
Negative Reinforcement
-negative reinforces remove the organism from an aversive situation
-a rat is continuously shocked and it will soon learn that pushing on a bar with stop the shock
-removal of shock, following the appropriate response, is the reinforcer
a negative reinforcement is not punishment*
{Punishment: decreases the rate of responding following the inappropriate response.
{Negative reinforcer: increases the rate of response following an appropriate response.
consequence or punishment?*
Primary and Secondary Reinforcers
primary reinforcers satisfy basic needs (food, water, sex)
find more resources at oneclass.com
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Psy1101 learning last lesson on midterm thursday, november 17th, 2016: watson & b. f. skinner. Watson laid out basic tenets of the science of behaviour. Psychology should be the study that which is overtly observable behaviour. The study of that which is not observable soul, mind, consciousness, repressed memories is banned. *invented the coffee break nescafe good till the lsat drop . Books : about behaviourism walden two beyond freedom & dignity . Association is formed between two previously unrelated stimuli (ucs + cs) Observer learns that one stimulus is associated with another stimulus. Association is formed between a stimulus (s) and a response (r). Association is formed between the response and the subsequent consequence of responding. Strict operational definitions and observation of : stimulus, response, and the consequences of responding. If an organism continues to respond to a stimulus it is because it has been reinforced (cr). Skinner box a highly controlled environment; all aspects of behaviour are controlled.
