LEARNING APPROACHES : OPERANT CONDITIONING

LEARNING APPROACHES : OPERANT CONDITIONING

1. SKINNER developed chamber which animal could learn specific response

   • SKINNER found rats learned by trial + error by pressing certain levers would receive food + pressing others = electric shock. Rats learnt certain behaviours = consequences. Learnt to repeat behaviours led to receiving food. Called behaviour response that = reinforced.
     • SKINNER proposed we learn behaviour through reinforcers that encourage to repeat behaviours + punishments that reduce frequencies of behaviours.

2. POSITIVE REINFORCERS = encourage person to repeat particular behaviour. When behaviour = followed by positive reinforce - frequency increases. +ve reinforcers always have pleasant effect.

   • E.G. children may be offered money to clean room - encourages them to repeat behaviour.
   • NEGATIVE REINFORCERS = encourages people to repeat behaviour but stops something negative from continuing.
     • E.G. when you drink alcohol to stop negative feelings of depression.
     • PUNISHMENT = arrival of electric shock or school detention. Has unpleasant consequence + reduces frequency of behaviour.
       • PRIMARY REINFORCER = a basic need like food or drink.
         • SECONDARY REINFORCER can = exchanged for PRIMARY REINFORCER.
       • BEHAVIOUR SHAPING = when action can be gradually achieved by reinforcing behaviours that resemble desired behaviour. This = called successive approximations.
         • E.G. Parents may initially reward child for picking up clothes off floor. Next time reward for picking up clothes as well as dusting. Carries on until desired action of cleaning whole room = achieved.