Week 5 - Instrumental Conditioning (Reward)

     Hello, welcome back to my blog! The topic for this week five was instrumental conditioning, this topic was divided in two weeks since first it focuses in the classical conditioning with rewards and/or reinforcement and then it explains about the punishment or avoidance techniques.

 

Skinner’s operant conditioning:  Operant conditioning, also known as instrumental conditioning, is a theory of learning proposed by psychologist B.F. Skinner. In operant conditioning, behavior is modified by its consequences, which can either reinforce or punish the behavior.

 

Skinner introduced the concept of the "Skinner box," also known as an operant conditioning chamber, which is a controlled environment where researchers could study the principles of operant conditioning. In a Skinner box, an animal, typically a rat or a pigeon, learns to associate its behaviors with certain consequences, such as receiving food pellets or experiencing mild electric shocks.

 

Through operant conditioning, behaviors are shaped over time through reinforcement or punishment. Reinforcement increases the likelihood of a behavior recurring, while punishment decreases it. By manipulating the consequences of behavior, operant conditioning can be used to teach new behaviors, modify existing ones, or even eliminate unwanted behaviors.

 

Positive reinforcement: Positive reinforcement is a concept within operant conditioning that involves the addition of a desirable stimulus or reward immediately following a behavior, thereby increasing the likelihood that the behavior will occur again in the future. In simple terms, positive reinforcement involves giving something pleasant or rewarding to strengthen a desired behavior. Positive reinforcement is a powerful tool in shaping behavior, as it focuses on rewarding desired behaviors rather than punishing unwanted ones. It can be used in various settings, including education, parenting, and therapy, to encourage the acquisition of new skills and the development of positive habits.

 

(Resource obtained from: https://www.simplypsychology.org/positive-reinforcement.html)

 

 

Reinforcement variables:

 

Schedule: The pattern of delivering reinforcement following a response

Social: Reinforcement delivered by another person, often in the form of praise, attention, or approval

Delay: The time between performing a response and receiving the reinforcement

 

Question for classmates:

 

How do you think positive reinforcement could be effectively used in everyday situations to encourage desired behaviors or skills?

Thank you for reading! hope you have an amazing day! 

References: 

Terry, W. S. (1999). Learning and Memory: principles, processes, and procedures (5th ed.).

Cambridge Dictionary. (2024). https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/memory