PSYCH-101 Lecture Notes - Lecture 9: Aspirin, Operant Conditioning, Reinforcement
Document Summary
3-yr-old boy breaks out in uncontrollable sobs when he isn"t allowed a candy bar in the checkout line. Behaviors that are reinforced (lead to satisfying consequences) will be strengthened, and behaviors that are punished (lead to unsatisfying consequences) will be weakened. Neutral consequence (neither increases nor decreases probability that response will reoccur) Reinforcement (strengthens the response, increases the probability that response will reoccur) Punishment (weakens the response or makes it less likely to reoccur) In both positive reinforcement and positive punishment, a stimulus is presented. In both negative reinforcement and negative punishment, a stimulus is removed. Positive reinforcement: a pleasing stimulus is presented (e. g. , praise for good work) Positive punishment, an unpleasing stimulus is presented (e. g. , scolding for doing poor work) Negative reinforcement: an unpleasant stimulus is removed (e. g. , aspirin eliminates headache) Negative punishment: a pleasing stimulus is removed (e. g. , parents taking away candy from a child) Generally, reinforcement of positive behaviors are more effective.