PS101 Lecture Notes - Lecture 7: Alarm Clock, Operant Conditioning Chamber, B. F. Skinner
Document Summary
Response followed by a satisfying consequence becomes more likely to occur. Response followed by an unsatisfying consequence comes less likely to occur. Assumes that behaviours are voluntary, under our control. We have to emit a behaviour, operate on the environment, and then associate is behaviour with a positive or negative outcome. A skinner box is a modified cage with levers or buttons animals could press or peck. B. f. skinner (1904-1990) proposed that the consequences of a behaviour are critical from learning. Add some elecement to one"s environment ( positive ), or remove an element ( negative ) This can lead to an increase in the behavior ( reinforcement ), or a decrease in the behavior ( punishment ) A dog that begs is given a treat; it will learn to beg more often. A kitten that scratches its scolded; it will learn not to scratch.
