Operant Conditioning
Modified: 2025-01-06 11:27 AM CST
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The paradigm for operant conditioning is:
- SD-->R-->SR
- where and SD is a discriminative stimulus, R is a response, and SR is a reinforcer.
- In operant conditioning, an animal must first make a response. Notice, that is not the case in classical conditioning.
- That response is usually preceded by a discriminative stimulus, and
sometimes followed by a reinforcer.
- Operant conditioning occurs when the association of response and
reinforcer causes the animal to make the response again later in a
similar situation.
- The discriminative stimulus signals the animal that
a response at a given time is likely to be reinforced.
- The response
MUST be made, for without it, the reinforcement will not occur.
- Finally, the reinforcer has the property of making the response that
precedes it more likely to recur.
- Example: Think of a traffic light.
- It's a complex discriminative stimulus.
- Green means go.
- Red means stop.
- Example: Imagine that you are in a future classroom and a green light appears on your console.
- Were you to raise your hand and ask a question, you would get a $20 bill.
- If you never raise your hand then no money.
- But, if you do raise your hand and get the money you'll probably raise your hand again.
- But, when you raise your hand when the green light is not on, nothing happens, no $20 bill.
- Soon, the green light comes on, you raise your hand and the money is dispensed.
- Now, that green light has become a discriminative stimulus.
- If it is on AND you raise your hand you'll get the money.
- If it is off and you raise your hand nothing happens.
- What do you think you'll do when that green light appears?
- The apparatus used to study operant conditioning removes many
distractors.
- An animal in an operant chamber will eventually direct
its attention to the manipulandum (e.g., the lever or key) that
activates the reinforcer.
- So, operant conditioning can be defined:
- As a procedure in which a
response followed by a stimulus recurs.
- It recurs because of the
stimulus.
- That stimulus is called a reinforcer.
- Reinforcers are
stimuli that make the response that preceded them more likely to
recur.
- Typical reinforcers include the giving of food or drink, and
the removal of shock or pain.
- Other properties of
reinforcers will be covered on other pages in this chapter.
- Discriminative stimuli set the occasion for a response and its
associated reinforcer to occur.
- So, a green traffic light is
the discriminative stimulus for the response of pressing on the
accelerator of your car.
- But he facial expression of your boss may set
the occasion for you NOT to ask your boss for a raise (because of a
likely negative answer to your question).
- Instrumental Conditioning is similar to operant except that once a response is made the trial is over.
- Future trials involve moving the animal (or human) into a position where the response can be made anew.
- Examples include:


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