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Positive and Negative Reinforcement

Thorndikes Law of Effect

o A response that is followed by satisfying consequences is more likely to be repeated

Reinforcement
A response that is followed by satisfying consequences is more likely to be repeated
Response Satisfying Consequences

More Likely to be Repeated in the Future

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Reinforcement
When a type of behavior is followed by reinforcement there will be an increase in the future frequency of that type of behavior (Michael, 2004, p. 30).

Reinforcement vs. Rinforcer

Reinforcer SR(concept): A stimulus that increases the future frequency of a response it follows. Reinforcement:
Is a ___________ that involves:
1. Presentation of a reinforcer or removal of an
aversive stimulus contingent on a given behavior

2. Resulting in an __________ in future frequency of

that behavior.

To be Contingent
For example: Each time the grandfather said something sensible, the grandmother said a few kind words to him. As a result, the grandfather began to say sensible remarks more often. Kind words Spoken by Grandma where Contingent on Kind words Spoken by Grandma where ____________ Grandpa saying something sensible

Grandpa saying something sensible

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Primary Reinforcers (SR)

Unconditioned or Unlearned Reinforcers Important to our Survival

Pairing NS with Unconditioned Reinforcers (SR) Behavior Reinforcer +

Got 100 % on an Online Quiz on the First attempt

Feeling Good (primary SR)

Conditioned Reinforcers (SR)

Conditioned or Learned Reinforcers

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Conditioned Reinforcers (SR)

Attention as a Learned Reinforcer

Almost all of us need Attention Attention is reinforcing because it is necessary condition to get other reinforcements from people

Only people who are attending to us will reinforce our behavior

Conditioned Reinforcers (SR)

Submissiveness of others as a Learned Reinforcer Agreement of others without protest is reinforcing I am always right and I do not make mistakes I always get my way The of people that find submissiveness reinforcing

Skinners Three Term Contingency

A Occasion AKA Antecedent
B Behavior

C Outcome AKA Consequence

(Reinforcement)

Antecedent is a stimulus that sets the occasion that a particular Behavior will produce a particular Consequence

Response Contingent increases the Probability that the the Behavior will Occur in The Future

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Skinners Three Term Contingency

A Occasion AKA Antecedent
B Behavior

C Outcome AKA Reinforcement

Ask for a Cookie

A
I wont eat this

Ok, what do you want me to make you?

The fish on the plate sets the occasion for Mike to get to eat something else by saying I wont eat this.

Reinforcement Principle
o A response will occur more frequently in the future if a reinforcer has followed it in the past, in similar occasions.

Antecedent

Behavior

Reinforcer

Response-contingent

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Example:
In the past Rods crying, while left to play alone, has been reinforced by parents playing with him As a results, Rod begins to cry more often as soon as his dad leaves the room.

After the response, how long can we wait before we deliver the reinforcer?
Immediate Reinforcement (ideal): Less than ___________ Delayed Reinforcement: ______ seconds or less after response > ___ second Delay Delivery of a Reinforcer: Probably wont reinforce the response!

Whats wrong with waiting more than 1 second to present the reinforcer?

Even a one second delay can reinforce the _________________.

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Remember!!!!!!!!!!
We always Reinforce Behavior: Not _____________. Dont reinforce us

Reinforce our behavior!

Does reinforcement always has to be contingent on a behavior?

_________
However some reinforcers should be delivered _________________: Not dependent on anything
_________________ __________________

Example:

Reinforcement vs Bribery
Mr. Mafia gives an envelope with $10,000 to a young college football player. Heres $10,000 to throw the game. Is this Reinforcement? _______________________________________ Is this Bribery? __________Bribery is the use of a stimulus, often (but not always) given in ___________, for the performance of an _________________________ ____________________.

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Reinforcement or Bribery?

Reinforcer or a Bribe?
You say, If you eat your vegetables you can have ice cream. Is this reinforcement or bribery? _____________ _______________________

Increasing Expressive Language

3-year old Todd only used one phrase for everything he wanted Give me. The behavior analyst, noticed that Todd liked Gummy Bears. How can the behavior analyst use this information to teach Todd to request Gummy Bears using a socially appropriate phrase Give Todd one gummy bear immediately after he says Give me Gummy Bear

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Successful Intervention
Before (Baseline) Positive Reinforcement

How do we talk about specific psychological problems

A woman fails to get her homework done in time What is the Medical Model Interpretation? This failure is a symptom of the underlying fear of success (anxiety). What is the Behavioral Interpretation? ______________________________________. Or ____________________________is more reinforcing (because it temporarily decreases feeling nervous)

Because your ID is strong and your Ego and Superego are underdeveloped

Why am I acting so selfishly?

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What can we say when talking about being selfish?

Looking at your learning history, it appears to me that in the past you have been reinforced by your parents and other people in your life for ________________ ___________________. Thus, you continued to engage in these behaviors more and more.

Reinforcement:
A procedure that involves presentation of stimulus or termination of aversive stimulus contingent upon a response, resulting in an increase in future frequency of that response. Type of Stimulus Change

Presentation of Stimulus

Withdrawal of Stimulus

Increase in future frequency of a response

What is an Aversive Stimulus?

Aversive Stimulus: A stimulus that is not pleasant to us is removed Example: A lot of homework Headache or any kind of pain Annoying people For most people Exam or a Quiz

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Positive vs Negative Reinforcement

Before Response S+R

__________ frequency in future

Before

Response

S-R

__________ frequency in future

Positive or Negative Reinforcement? A B

Ask for a Cookie

No Attention

Cries

Gets Attention

Positive or Negative Reinforcement? A B C

Baby Cries Parent cant Stand it

Parent Picks Up the Baby

Crying Stops (Aversive removed)

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Left Alone In bedroom

Cries

Gets Attention

Baby Cries Parent cant Stand it

Parent Picks Up the Baby

Crying Stops (Aversive removed)

Baby Cries Parent cant Stand it

Parent Picks Up the Baby

Crying Stops (Aversive removed)

When we terminate the Aversive Stimuli we say that We ________ the aversive stimuli

Escape Contingency
Escape Contingency: The response-contingent removal of an aversive stimulus resulting in an increased frequency of that response.

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Lets Analyze the scenario: From the childs point of view

Before Child Has not Candy Behavior Cries After Gets Candy

1. SR+ 2. SR-

Lets Analyze the scenario: From the parents point of view

Before Child is crying very loudly Behavior Gives the child small bag of candy After Child stops crying

1. SR+ 2. SR-

Escape versus Avoidance

Solomon & Wynne (1953) Dogs placed in shuttle box Dog received 10 trials to escape or avoid shock Lights off-10 seconds electrified until escaped Dogs avoided shock by jumping over seconds before lights were off Avoidance is resistant to extinction.

Shuttle Box

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Case of Claustrophobia
When you are in an elevator will you Escape or Avoid the Elevator? When you just walked into the building and have a choice of taking the stairs or the elevator?

Why are we Superstitious?

Superstition Experiment Grain was presented every 15 sec. 6/8 pigeons had clear defined repeated behaviors.

Experimental Chamber
http://www.pigeon.psy.tufts.edu/psych26/images/histor1.jpg http://www.steve.gb.com/images/rants/pigeon.jpg

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Why would the pigeon behave this way?

Power of accidental reinforcement! Whatever behavior happened to be occurring when the reinforcer was delivered was strengthened. Accidental strengthening process is selfperpetuating: more chances it will be reinforced since it occurs more often. These results have been replicated by other researchers doing similar research (e.g., Hustice & Looney, 1990)

Skinner (1948)
Many superstitious behaviors presented by people are produced by the same mechanisms as the pigeons. Example:

Footnotes
1. Based on Green, G. R., Linsk, N. L., & Pinkston, E. M. (1986). Modification of verbal behavior of the mentally impaired elderly by their spouses. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 19, 329-336. 2. Based on Tomlinson, J. R. (1970). Bowel retention. Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry, 2, 83-85. 3. Based on Hart, B. M., & Risley, T. R. (1968). Establishing use of descriptive adjectives in the spontaneous speech of disadvantaged preschool children. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 1, 109-120. 4. Fulton, B. J., & Malott, R. W. (1981-1982). The structured meeting system: A procedure for improving the completion of nonrecurring tasks. Journal of Organizational Behavior Management, 3(4), 718.

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References
Some powerpoint slides of Dr. Richard Malott (2008) from Western Michigan University are used/adapted.

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