Objective + scientifically credible findings: carefully controlled setting
Low ecological: dog in unusual conditions (tied up in a harness in a box, cut off
from other dogs+humans, with a drip feed attached to their mouths), odd stimuli.
=nothing normal about their reactions.
cannot expect such unrealistic tests to explain or predict behaviour in the
real world.
Ethics
Unethical: research animals treated humanely, not sealed up in small rooms, tied
in harness (no ethical guidelines in early 20th century)
OPERANT CONDITIONING (Skinner,1955)
LEARNING BY CONSEQUENCES
To change behavior: change antecedents (already happened) / consequences (easier)
Antecedent: stimulus triggering bhv
Behaviour: response observed/measured as outcome of A
Consequence: rewards/punishment motivating bhv repetition /inhibition
Stimulus-response association learned/repeated: consequence of pairing is +ve
-ve consequence weakens this link
SKINNER BOX
-ve reinforcement
Rat subjected to unpleasant electric current
6
, Accidental lever pressing : switched off electric current
Consequence of escaping it ensured rat repeat action of lever pressing
Light switched on prior to electric current
Lever pressing after light was negatively reinforced
+ve reinforcement
Initial bhv random but tripping lever = reward of food pellet
Rat learned lever =means of obtaining reinforcer
Consequence of receiving food (desirable stimulus) for lever pressing ensured that rat
repeated action
Reinforcement: desired behaviour is rewarded, increasing in frequency
+ve: add pleasant
-ve: remove unpleasant
Primary: reward wanted naturally e.g. basic need like food, warmth + affection
Secondary: reward learned to value & can get a basic need e.g. money
Punishment: undesirable behaviour produces unpleasant consequences,
decreasing its frequency
+ve: add unpleasant
-ve: remove pleasant
7
Low ecological: dog in unusual conditions (tied up in a harness in a box, cut off
from other dogs+humans, with a drip feed attached to their mouths), odd stimuli.
=nothing normal about their reactions.
cannot expect such unrealistic tests to explain or predict behaviour in the
real world.
Ethics
Unethical: research animals treated humanely, not sealed up in small rooms, tied
in harness (no ethical guidelines in early 20th century)
OPERANT CONDITIONING (Skinner,1955)
LEARNING BY CONSEQUENCES
To change behavior: change antecedents (already happened) / consequences (easier)
Antecedent: stimulus triggering bhv
Behaviour: response observed/measured as outcome of A
Consequence: rewards/punishment motivating bhv repetition /inhibition
Stimulus-response association learned/repeated: consequence of pairing is +ve
-ve consequence weakens this link
SKINNER BOX
-ve reinforcement
Rat subjected to unpleasant electric current
6
, Accidental lever pressing : switched off electric current
Consequence of escaping it ensured rat repeat action of lever pressing
Light switched on prior to electric current
Lever pressing after light was negatively reinforced
+ve reinforcement
Initial bhv random but tripping lever = reward of food pellet
Rat learned lever =means of obtaining reinforcer
Consequence of receiving food (desirable stimulus) for lever pressing ensured that rat
repeated action
Reinforcement: desired behaviour is rewarded, increasing in frequency
+ve: add pleasant
-ve: remove unpleasant
Primary: reward wanted naturally e.g. basic need like food, warmth + affection
Secondary: reward learned to value & can get a basic need e.g. money
Punishment: undesirable behaviour produces unpleasant consequences,
decreasing its frequency
+ve: add unpleasant
-ve: remove pleasant
7
