Strengthening of a stimulus:

response relationship by following the response with a reinforcement.

(B.F. Skinner)

(stimulus)->[Response->Reinforcement]

1)Shaping: the experimenter rewards the organism each time it the response approximates the desired response. (learning)

2) Chaining: combining shaping steps. (learned)

"Give good when good"

Reinforcement desired by the subject which will increase probability of an action.

"Get rid of bad when good"

Undesired reinforcer which will strengthen a response by its absence.

A natural reinforcement.

Examples:

• Food
• Music

A learned reinforcement.

Examples:

• Money
• Good grades

a) The shorter the time between and elicited response & the reward the quicker learning will occur.

b) Frequency of reinforcer also increases the rate of learning.

(non-continuous)

Reinforcement is not presented after each response but in intervals.

1. Ratio-schedule
   • Fixed-Ratio
   • Variable-Ratio
2. Interval Schedule
   • Fixed-interval
   • Variable-interval

Reinforcement occurs after a determined # of correct responses.

Ex. 5,5,5

# of responses between reinforcement varies.

Ex. 5,2,7,12

Reinforcement is determined by the time between responses.

reinforcement after fixed period of time.

Ex. 5min, 5min, 5min

Time between reinforcement varies.

Ex. 5min, 7min, 2min

1. Subject:
   • CC: passive, reacts to stimulus.
   • OC: must act on environment for reward (active)
2. UCS
   • CC: Specifically known
   • OC: Not known
3. Reinforcement
   • CC: Reinforcement before response
   • OC: Reinforcer after response

1. Immediately after undesired response.
2. Not too severe as to harm or cause other undesirable behavior.

1. May slow down learning due to fear of punishment
2. May suppress not only bad behavior but good behavior too.
3. Behavior punished may reappear when punisher not present
4. Children may not learn any other way to learn
5. ***Children may think of themselves as bad & not behavior
6. If punishment works, punisher may verify its use