Reinforcing behavior

1
Unit 3

• Section 2
• Reinforcing behavior

2
Behavioral Approaches

• Classic Theoretical Notions
• Application to Workplace

3
A good behaviorist

• Behavioral psychology is a valuable theoretical
  base for any Human Relations professional. In
  the past, behaviorism was critiqued because it
  attempted to diminish the relevance of internal
  mental processes. Today, with the advent of
  cognitive-behavioral theories, there is less of
  an inclination for behavioral and insight
  oriented schools of psychology to be discordant.
  The lessons of behavioral psychology are useful
  in counseling and organizational contexts.
  Behavioral psychology, in fact, is common
  currency in our everyday way of thinking.

4
Classical OperantConditioning

• BF Skinner (1904-1990) developed modern learning
  theory. Skinner focused on principles of
  conditioning. In addition to your assigned
  readings, research on the internet Skinners
  original ideas.
• Classic(e.g. Pavlov ringing a bell and his
  dogs salivating). A stimulus evokes a
  predictable response
• Operant(e.g. an MM for good behavior) Actions
  operate on the environment to encourage certain
  responses.

5
8 constructs of behaviorism

• 1. ALL BEHAVIOR IS CAUSED BY THE ENVIRONMENT
• 2. BEHAVIOR IS SHAPED AND MAINTAINED BY ITS
  CONSEQUENCES
• 3. REINFORCED BEHAVIOR IS MORE LIKELY TO RECUR
  THAN BEHAVIOR THAT IS NOT REINFORCED
• 4. POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT HAS MORE CONDITIONING
  POTENCY THAN NEGATIVE REINFORCEMENT

6
8 constructs of behaviorism (continued)

• 5. REINFORCEMENT NEEDS TO FOLLOW IMMEDIATELY
  AFTER A BEHAVIOR
• 6. REINFORCEMENT MAY BE EITHER CONCRETE OR
  SOCIAL
• 7. BEHAVIOR CAN BE EXTINGUISHED BY THE ABSENCE
  OF REINFORCERS
• 8. BEHAVIORS MAY BE SHAPED BY REINFORCING
  SUCCESSIVE APPROXIMATIONS OF THE DESIRED BEHAVIOR

7
Pause to reflect

• Go through the 8 constructs of behaviorism on the
  previous slides and be sure you can apply
  examples for each principle. Think about common
  events like being a parent or supervising an
  employee be able to apply each of these tenets
  to real life experiences.
• One of the great values of behavioral psychology
  is that the results are observable and measurable.

8
Basic Terms (1)

• POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT increase the frequency of
  a response with favorable contingencies
• NEGATIVE REINFORCEMENT increase behaviors to
  avoid or escape an anticipated aversive event
  with unfavorable contingencies
• EXTINCTION remove or eliminate reinforcers to
  stop a behavior

9
Basic Terms (2)

• DISCRIMINATION LEARNING a response is rewarded
  in one situation but not another. That behavior
  is under the control of the stimulus
• GENERALIZATION refers to the occurrence of
  behavior in situations other than that in which
  it was acquired

10
Pause to reflect

• Once more, review the basic terms on the previous
  slides and be able to apply these to real life
  scenarios. Identify several examples. Think
  about changing a bad mental habit, or reducing a
  compulsive behavior, or overcoming loss through
  separation from a loved one, or dieting these
  are all subject to good behavioral interventions.
• The next slide has some basic behavioral
  techniques. Be sure you know how to apply each
  technique in a professional context,

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Behavioral Techniques

• SYSTEMATIC DESENSITIZATION
• RELAXATION TRAINING
• ASSERTIVENESS TRAINING
• SELF-MONITORING METHODS
• REAL-LIFE PERFORMANCE BASED (WITH TOKEN
  ECONOMIES)
• Research the internet and add to this list of
  techniques. Find techniques that fit your work
  needs.

12
Expanding beyond basic behavioral psychology

• Your readings on cognitive-behavioral psychology
  illustrate a major development in going beyond
  classic models of behaviorism. Another author
  you will benefit from reading is Albert Bandura
  his theorizing focused on social processes
  surrounding environmental stimuli and mental
  processes mediating between stimuli and
  responses. See the Helpful Links to begin
  research on Bandura.

13
Multimodal Therapy -(BASIC ID ) Arnold Lazarus
also expanded the behavioral approach to
include the following levels of investigation

• BEHAVIOR overt, measurable habits, reactions
• AFFECT emotions, moods
• SENSATION 5 senses, likes-dislikes,
  pain-pleasure
• IMAGERY self-concept, memories, fantasies
• COGNITION self-talk, opinions, beliefs,
  judgments
• INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS interaction
  patterns, social interests
• DRUGS/ BIOLOGY nutrition, activities,
  prescriptions, exercise and activities

14
The workplace

• Managers and consultants of industry apply
  behavioral principles regularly to increase
  productivity. As you examine the following
  slides, think about how behavioral approaches can
  be misused as well as be useful.
• Critique behavioral approaches in the workplace
  with management from an existentialist
  perspective with its focus on meaning and choice.
  
• Critique behavioral approaches in the workplace
  with management from a feminist perspective with
  its critique of patriarchal power structures.

15
Behavior Management in the Workplace

• Considered a productivity boosting technique
• Step 1 identify specific behavior must be
  measurable, overt
• Step 2 measure and record performance
• Step 3 analyze and change consequences of the
  performance
• Step 4 review reinforcers and chart new
  behavior

16
Positive Reinforcement in the Workplace should be
considered on various levels, including--

• SOCIAL CONSEQUENCES
• INTRINSIC CONSEQUENCES
• TANGIBLE CONSEQUENCES
• Identify 3 examples of each of the above
  consequences in your own work setting. Do you
  see the overlap of theories from McClelland and
  Herzberg? Maslows lower and higher needs level
  are relevant here, too.

17
Guidelines for using Punishment in the Workplace
(1)

• CAUTIONS
• People will only tolerate so much
• The effects of punishment are temporary
• More than the targeted behavior is often
  eliminated
• Punishment may result in excuses and complaining
• Punishment does not ensure correct behavior

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Guidelines for Using Punishment in the Workplace
(2)

• SUGGESTIONS
• Minimize any public attention that goes with
  punishment
• Identify in specific terms the behavior being
  punished
• Refer to behaviors and not the person
• Think of examples from your own work-life where
  punishment was used. What happened to morale and
  productivity?

19

Informal Written Assignment

• Study the case Feed them peanuts very
  carefully. Apply what you have been learning
  about motivation and reinforcement in Unit 3.
  Answer the questions at the end of the study.
  Be sure to focus on theoretical issues and not
  simply to give your opinion of what should
  happen. Turn in this essay with your other
  informal written assignments on the assigned
  due date.

20
End

• This is the end of Unit 3.
• There are 2 informal assignments in this Unit.
  One is the application of Maslows hierarchy of
  needs and the other is the case study feed them
  peanuts.
• Please be sure to research the internet
  thoroughly for these organizational theories
  otherwise, your reading for this course will be
  incomplete.