REINFORCEMENT

A PRESENTATION IN SSCI 20

BY: MILLMANN PAUL CHAVEZGRACE ANN DAIS

REINFORCEMENTReinforcement is an educational concept rooted in behavioral learning theory (Baldwin & Baldwin, 1986). Behavioral learning theory does not focus on mental knowledge, such as learning information. Neither does it focus on cognitive and sociocultural concepts, such as creating meaning, understanding concepts, using memory, and the experience of conceptual change. Instead, behavioral learning theory focuses on behavior. Specifically, it focuses on voluntary, intentional, and situationally appropriate behavior. So, the learning highlighted by behavioral learning theory is learning how to adapt successfully to one's environment.

BF SKINNER: OPERANT CONDITIONING

Skinner is regarded as the father of Operant Conditioning, but his work was based on Thorndike’s law of effect. Skinner introduced a new term into the Law of Effect - Reinforcement. Behavior which is reinforced tends to be repeated (strengthened); behavior which is not reinforced tends to die out-or be extinguished (weakened).

Skinner (1948) studied operant conditioning by conducting experiments using animals which he placed in a “Skinner Box” which was similar to Thorndike’s puzzle box.

Skinner coined the term operant conditioning; it means roughly changing of behavior by the use of reinforcement which is given after the desired response.  Skinner identified three types of responses or operant that can follow behavior.

• NEUTRAL OPERANTS: responses from the environment that neither increase nor decrease the probability of a behavior being repeated.

• REINFORCERS: Responses from the environment that increase the probability of a behavior being repeated. Reinforcers can be either positive or negative.

• PUNISHERS: Response from the environment that decrease the likelihood of a behavior being repeated. Punishment weakens behavior.

POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE REINFORCEMENT

POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT

• Observer is likely to repeat behavior a model demonstrates

• Behavior doesn’t matter, reinforcement received matters.

NEGATIVE REINFORCEMENT

• Observer is less likely to repeat a behavior a model demonstrates.

• Behavior doesn't matter, reinforcement received matters.

WHAT IS A REWARD?

WHAT IS A PUNISHMENT?

- Anything that increase the behavior

- is a consequence of upleasant behavior that

decreases the likelihood of repetition.

WHAT IS POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT?

In operant conditioning, positive reinforcement involves the addition of a reinforcing stimulus following a behavior that makes it more likely that the behavior will occur again in the future. When a favorable outcome, event, or reward occurs after an action, that particular response or behavior will be strengthened.

One of the easiest ways to remember positive reinforcement is to think of it as something being added. By thinking of it in these terms, you may find it easier to identify real-world examples of positive reinforcement.

EXAMPLES OF POSITIVE REINFORCEMENTConsider the following examples:

• After you execute a turn during a skiing lesson, your instructor shouts out, "Great job!"

• At work, you exceed this month's sales quota so your boss gives you a bonus.

• For your psychology class, you watch a video about the human brain and write a paper about what you learned. Your instructor gives you 20 extra credit points for your work.

WHAT IS NEGATIVE REINFORCEMENT?

In negative reinforcement, a response or behavior is strengthened by stopping, removing or avoiding a negative outcome or aversive stimulus.

Aversive stimuli tend to involve some type of discomfort, either physical or psychological. Behaviors are negatively reinforced when they allow you to escape from aversive stimuli that are already present or allow you to completely avoid the aversive stimuli before they happen.

One of the best ways to remember negative reinforcement is to think of it as something being subtracted from the situation. When you look at it in this way, it may be easier to identify examples of negative reinforcement in the real-world.

EXAMPLES OF NEGATIVE REINFORCEMENTLearn more by looking at the following examples:

• Before heading out for a day at the beach, you slather on sunscreen in order to avoid getting sunburned.

• You decide to clean up your mess in the kitchen in order to avoid getting in a fight with your roommate.

• On Monday morning, you leave the house early in order to avoid getting stuck in traffic and being late for class.

Punishment, on the other hand, is the presentation of an adverse event or outcome that causes a decrease in the behavior it follows. There are two kinds of punishment:

•Positive punishment, sometimes referred to as punishment by application, involves the presentation of an unfavorable event or outcome in order to weaken the response it follows.

•Negative punishment, also known as punishment by removal, occurs when an favorable event or outcome is removed after a behavior occurs.•In both of these cases of punishment, the behavior decreases.

HOW THE ENVIRONMENT REINFORCES AND PUNISHES

MODELING:1.The observer is reinforced by the model

2. The observer is reinforced by a third person

3. The imitated behavior itself leads to reinforcing consequences

4. Consequences of the model’s behavior affect the observers behavior vicariously (vicarious reinforcement)

EFFECTS ON BEHAVIORTeaches new behaviors

Increases or decreases the frequency with which previously learned behaviors are carried out

Can encourage previously forbidden behavior

Can increase or decrease similar behaviors.

REFERENCES• Skinner, B. F. (1938). The Behavior of Organisms: An

Experimental Analysis. New York: Appleton-Century.

• McLeod, S. A. (2007). B.F. Skinner | Operant Conditioning - Simply Psychology. Retrieved from http://www.simplypsychology.org/operant-conditioning.html

•Kanazawa, S. (2010). Common Misconceptions about Science VI:

"Negative Reinforcement." Psychology Today. Retrieved from

http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-scientific-fundamentalist/

201001/common-misconceptions-about-science-vi-negative-

reinforcement

•Positive reinforcement: A proactive intervention in the classroom.

The University of Minnesota.

www.cehd.umn.edu/ceed/publications/tipsheets/preschoolbehaviortip

sheets/posrein.pdf

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