Associative Learning

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Associative Learning

• Operant Conditioning

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Foundations

• Edward Thorndike (1874-1949)
• Puzzle Box
• Cats became more efficient with each trial
• Law of effect
• Rewarded behavior is likely to recur

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• B.F. Skinner (1904-1990)
• Started with Thorndikes Law of Effect
• Operant Chamber (Skinner Box)
• Utilized food as reinforcer for a variety of
  behaviors
• Resulted in animal learning

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Operant Conditioning

• Association of behaviors and their consequences
• Behavior is strengthened (repeated) if followed
  by reinforcement or diminished if followed by
  punishment
• Operant because the behavior operates on the
  environment to produce a consequence.

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Shaping

• Procedure in which rewards such as food gradually
  guide an animals behavior toward a desired
  behavior
• Reinforcement given for successive approximations
  of desired behavior
• Baby steps toward desired behavior

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Principles of Reinforcement

• Reinforcer any event that strengthens the
  behavior that it follows.
• Positive (pleasant given food)
• Negative (aversive taken away turning off alarm)
• Primary (Innate satisfies biological need)
• Secondary (Learned money, good grades, pleasant
  tone of voice, all linked with primary)

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Focus on Positive Reinforcement

• Examples

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Focus on Negative Reinforcement

• Examples

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Reinforcement Schedules

• Continuous
• Reinforcing the desired response (behavior)
  whenever it occurs
• Learning occurs rapidly
• Extinction also rapid once reinforcement stops

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Reinforcement Schedules

• Partial
• Reinforcing response only part of the time
• Slower acquisition of learning
• Greater resistance to extinction

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Fixed Ratio

• Reinforce behavior after a set number of
  responses
• High rate of responding
• Example Paid 10 for every 100 envelopes stuffed

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Variable Ratio

• Reinforcement occurs after an unpredictable
  number of responses
• High rates of responding
• Resists extinction
• Example gambling, giving in to childs whining
  in grocery store every so often, sales commissions

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Fixed Interval

• Reinforce the first response after a fixed time
  period has occurred.
• Rapid rate of responding as anticipated time of
  reward approaches
• Choppy pattern of responding
• Example checking the cookies as the baking time
  is nearly done, checking for the mail as the time
  approaches for the delivery to occur

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Variable Interval

• Reinforce the first response after varying time
  intervals
• Slow steady responding
• Example Boss walks around on a varying schedule
  to check on employees progress.

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Superstitious behavior

• How does it happen?

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Punishment

• Decreases behavior that it follows
• Not forgotten, just suppressed
• May increase aggressiveness
• positive applying an aversive consequence
• negative withdrawing a pleasant consequence.

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Handouts
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Operant Conditioning

• Updates and applications

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Problems with Punishment

• Human studies re physical
• Temporary suppression negatively reinforces
  parental punishing behavior
• May learn discrimination (do it when you wont
  get caught)
• Increased aggressiveness
• Develop fear
• Doesnt guide

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What to do?

• Reinforcement of desired behaviors best
• Reframe contingencies from threats to positive
  incentives

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Cognition

• Cognitive Map mental representation of ones
  environment
• Latent Learning learning that occurs without
  reinforcement or punishment

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Cognition Motivation

• Overjustification effect

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• Intrinsic and Extrinsic motivation
• Excessive rewards undermine intrinsic motivation
• Rewards administered as feedback or information
  about performance can increase performance
• Examples

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Biological Predispositions

• Organisms learn associations that are naturally
  adaptive.

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Behavioral Modification

• State your goal in measurable terms
• Monitor behavior
• Reinforce desired behavior
• Reduce the incentives gradually, exchanging for
  mental rewards

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Applications

• Discuss How can your knowledge of operant
  conditioning be used to enhance
• Education/teaching
• Parenting
• Work performance
• Identify an example for each area

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