behaviourist oprant conditioning

Come up with the highest scoring single (real!) word relating to:

Behaviourist Approach

STARTER

Lesson Objectives:AO1 - To explore and understand Operant Conditioning.

AO2 – To analyse the research surrounding Operant Conditioning.

AO2 – To evaluate Operant Conditioning.

OBJECTIVES

Operant Conditioning (Skinner)

Classical Conditioning (Pavlov)

Operant Conditioning

AO1 - To explore and understand Operant Conditioning.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JA96Fba-WHk

How does reinforcement effect our behaviour?

B.F Skinner studied how animals can learn from the consequences of their actions.

He specifically focused on Reinforcement.

Reinforcement strengthens the likelihood of behaviour re-occurring.


Positive ReinforcementReceiving a reward when a certain behaviour is performed to make the behaviour happen again - to behave the same way again in order to receive the reward.


Negative ReinforcementOccurs when someone avoids something unpleasant - something undesirable is removed when the desirable behaviour happens.


PunishmentThis is when something undesirable is received after a behaviour to make it stop - Punishment is used in an attempt to decrease a behavior.


Positive Reinforcement


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_ctJqjlrHA

B.F. Skinner claimed that all behaviour is learnt as a result of consequences in our environment – operant conditioning

This involves learning through the consequences (positive and negative) of behavioural responses.

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Operant conditioning is concerned with the use of consequences, such as gaining rewards or receiving punishments, in order to modify and shape behaviour.

Skinner, like Pavlov, tested this learning process on animals

Skinner box 11

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQtDTdDr8vs

Operant Conditioning He trained rats to press a lever using both types of reinforcement.

He used positive reinforcement to train the rat, by giving the rat a pellet of food each time it pressed the lever.

This caused the rat to learn that the lever = food, so it continued to press the lever.

He used negative reinforcement to train the rat, by running an electric current through the floor of the cage.

When the rat pressed the lever, the electric shock would stop. This taught the rat that lever = getting rid of something bad.


Positive Reinforcement Increases the likelihood of a response occurring because it

involves a reward for the behaviour

Can you think of any examples?

The worker gets paid a bonus for working hard. The dog gets a treat for returning when called. The child gets dessert for eating her vegetables (bribery!) Reward points are given for good work.

Positive reinforcement 01/05/23

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mt4N9GSBoMI

Negative Reinforcement Increases the likelihood of a response

occurring because it involves the removal of, or escaping from, unpleasant consequences (e.g. it leads to stopping or avoiding an electric shock)

Can you think of any examples? The choke collar is loosened when

the dog moves closer to the trainer. The reins are loosened when the

horse slows down. The car buzzer turns off when you

put on your seatbelt. The torture is stopped when the

victim confesses. 01/05/23

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It important to note however that the associations between responses and consequences have to be made close together in time for learning to occur.

Operant conditioning has been applied to the treatment of behaviour (e.g. behaviour shaping)

Examples included social skills training for offenders, and token economy systems used in institutions whereby tokens are given as a secondary reinforcement for good behaviour.

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cl7jr9EVcjI

You Tube Clip of Skinner Box



Skinner’s Box http://www.resourcd.com/@psychexchange/video/

show/36

http://www.resourcd.com/@psychexchange/video/show/36

http://www.resourcd.com/@psychexchange/video/show/36

What do you think of Punishment?

AO1 – To discuss punishment within the Behaviourist Approach.

Examples of Positive Punishment The consequence is receiving

something unpleasant which decreases the probability of the behaviour being repeated (e.g. the behaviour leads to an electric shock or a smack)

Can you think of any examples? The peeing on the rug (by a puppy) is

punished with a swat of the newspaper. The driver's speeding results in a ticket

and a fine. The baby's hand is burned when she

touches the hot stove. Walking straight through low doorways

is punished with a bonk on the head.01/05/23

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Examples of negative punishment

The consequence is removing something desirable and decreases probability of the behaviour being repeated

Can you think of any examples of this? Toys being taken away from a child

when they are throwing a tantrum The child has his crayons taken

away for fighting with his sister. The teenager is grounded for

misbehaviour (loses their social life) Child banned from playing computer

games for swearing01/05/23

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B.F. Skinner’s views on Punishment: Tells us what NOT to do…

doesn’t tell us what to do

Teaches us avoidance

May cause undesirable side effects:FearAggression

If punishment is unpredictable and unavoidable, we develop sense that events are beyond our control

Leads to:DepressionHelplessness


INSTEAD: Emphasize reinforcement Catch us doing something right and affirm it


Supernanny activity

Behaviourist Perspective Case Study: Derek - Operant Conditioning

Derek is 45 years old and attends a Day Centre for adults with learning difficulties. The staff at the centre find his behaviour challenging and

unacceptable. Derek often shouts out and demands attention and he refuses to comply with

the simplest of instructions that all clients are expected to follow.

Describe how the staff at the Day Centre could use operant conditioning to modify

and change Derek’s behaviour.

Consider the positives and negatives of Operant Conditioning.

ACTIVITY

AO1 - To explore and understand Operant Conditioning.AO3 – To evaluate Operant Conditioning.

Remember the terms? Positive Reinforcement: involves a reward Negative Reinforcement: involves the removal of, or

escaping from, unpleasant consequences Positive Punishment: receiving something unpleasant Negative punishment: removing something desirable

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Before we start...With the people around you, can you think of some strengths and weaknesses of the behaviourist approach?

Make notes of them and be prepared to share.

ACTIVITY

AO3 – To examine the Behaviourist Approach as a whole.AO2 – To evaluate and justify the Behaviourist Approach as a whole.

Lesson Objectives:AO1 – To discuss punishment within the

Behaviourist Approach.

AO1/3 – To examine the Behaviourist Approach as a whole.

AO3 – To evaluate and justify the Behaviourist Approach as a whole.

OBJECTIVES

Strengths of approach Behaviourism is very scientific. Theories are testable and

supported by rigorous experimental research – Uses the experimental method helps to establish cause and effect, objective

Replicable can be repeated due to high control so has reliability

Mainly quantitative data easy to analyse Behaviourist explanations can be applied to the real world to

explain everyday behaviour such as phobias and has produced many practical applications

Useful applications to education, child rearing (i.e. super nanny)

It provides strong counter-arguments to the nature side of the ‘nature-nurture’ debate 01/05/

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Limitations of approach

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• Many forms of learning cannot be satisfactorily explained by classical and operant conditioning e.g. insight learning

• Approach ignores important mental processes involved in learning

Over simplified only takes into account nurture, rules out any influence of anything else

Lack of ecological validity due to highly controlled experiments issues with generalisability

Lack of qualitative data no thoughts or feelings known

Much data has been obtained from species such as rats, dogs and pigeons but the relevance of these findings to human behaviour is dubious. Can we extrapolate?

Evaluation TimeUsing the information in front of you and page 107 of the text book.

Fill in your tables with the strengths and weaknesses of the Behaviourist Approach.

Make sure to bullet point and shorten your answers.

ACTIVITY

AO3 – To examine the Behaviourist Approach as a whole.AO2 – To evaluate and justify the Behaviourist Approach as a whole.

Can you?1. Explain what is meant by classical and operant

conditioning (2 marks each)2. Outline the main findings of Pavlov’s research3. Explain what is meant by positive and negative

reinforcement in operant conditioning (2 marks each)

4. Outline the main findings of Skinner’s research (4 marks)

5. Outline one strength and one limitation of the behaviourist approach in psychology

Answer the ‘Check it’ questions on page 107

The Behaviourist Approach

Outline and evaluate the behaviourist approach in

psychology (12 marks – AS, 16 marks – A level)

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HomeworkEnsure you have written up your class notes to include the

following:The assumptions of the behaviourist approachClassical conditioning and Pavlov’s researchOperant conditioning and Skinner’s researchTypes of reinforcementThe strengths and weaknesses of the approach

Mini Quiz

Positive Reinforcement, Negative reinforcement or punishment?

In 4 teams:

•Buzz when you know the answer.•First team to Buzz answers the question.

There are 6 questions.

The team with the most points wins!

PLENARY




A child gets £5 for washing the car.



A parent shouts at a child for crossing the street without looking.

Punishment



A salesman stops hassling his customer when he agrees to buy upgrades to a

product.

Negative reinforcement



Your teacher phones home when you don’t complete two pieces of homework.

Punishment



Your teacher asks your parents to nag you until you complete your homework.

Negative reinforcement



You receive a prize for finishing 2nd in a race.



TABOO

You have each been given a card with a word from the Behaviourist Approach on it.

You can not use the word or any of the words on the card to explain it.

Task:See how many words we can do in ONE minute.

STARTER

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PLENARY

Answer the questions on page 107 of the text book:

1.Explain ONE assumption of the behaviourist approach. (3 Marks)

2. Outline TWO types of reinforcement as suggested by the behaviourist approach.(4 marks)

3. Outline and evaluate the behaviourist approach in psychology.(12 marks)

Hand them into me afterwards.AO3 – To examine the Behaviourist Approach as a whole.AO2 – To evaluate and justify the Behaviourist Approach as a whole.

behaviourist oprant conditioning

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