An organism that most receives negative reinforcement associates such reinforcement not only with the undesirable behavior, but also with the trainer. The relationship between the trainer and organism is damaged, and trust is undermined. Trust is important to effective training.
A better way to discourage undesirable behavior is perhaps to initially provide positive reinforcement, which is removed when the behavior is repeated, resulting in the organism eventually giving up. This maintains the trust between the organism and the trainer. The organism then also associates the pleasant stimulus with the trainer, which encourages a desire to maintain the trust relationship.
D. SHAPING BEHAVIOR
An example of using operant conditioning to shape behavior could be applied to the teaching context. Desirable behavior for children in a classroom is to sit quietly and listen while the teacher is talking or giving instructions. Unruly children tend to have a disruptive effect upon learning, as instructions are neither heard nor followed. To teach them the skill of listening carefully, I would then use operant conditioning by rewarding them for listening carefully and effectively. From my own school experience, the teachers who are most adored are those who obtain results not only by teaching effectively, but those who do so by reward rather than punishment.
E. REINFORCEMENT SCHEDULE
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Conditioning Theories: Phobias and Addiction Phobias and Addiction Phobias and Classical Conditioning Theory Classical conditioning theory proposes that an individual can acquire a phobic response to a conditioned stimulus (CS), if the CS is paired with an aversive unconditioned stimulus (UCS) of sufficient strength and/or nature to elicit a negative affective reaction (Armfield, 2006, p. 747). For example, if a golfer is hit by lightening on the 15th hole, the UCS is being
Then, on seeing that the rearing has become a little bit familiar to him, sniffy is therefore, reinforced when he rears at a point with the bar. After several attempts of the previous steps, sniffy was encouraged to rear up nearer to the bar as possible. During the regular training observation, incase sniffy rears so close to the bar this increases the likelihood that sniffy will press on the bar.
Hypothetical Experimental Scenario and Real-Life Application in School: A typical operant conditioning experiment featuring positive reinforcement would include one in which an animal is rewarded on a ratio schedule of pressing a lever. In that scenario, the subject receives a food reward for pressing a lever a specific number of times. Four presses of the lever rewarded by a single food pellet would be a ratio reward schedule of 4:1. The
Conditioning Classical and operant conditioning are types of behavioral learning. Subsets of behavioral psychology, classical and operant conditioning show how a subject (animal or human) can exhibit relatively permanent changes in behavior due to certain types of experiences. According to Cryver (2000), learning is a "fundamental process" in all animals. Classical conditioning is also known as "learning by association." Association in this sense refers to the association of a behavior with a
Operant Conditioning is based on the idea that an individual's response to external stimuli can be modified, or changed, depending upon the consequences of that individual's response. Formulated by famed psychologist B.F. Skinner, operant conditioning deals mainly with voluntary behavior, or operant behavior. While classical conditioning deals mainly with involuntary, or reflex, behaviors, Skinner's theory maintains a system of consequences for reactions which are called punishment and reinforcement. Punishment is
To achieve better results, strategies could therefore be devised to ensure that all students understand the instructions provided. One way to do this is to encourage students to ask for help. Students who received undesirable results after their second attempt, therefore, were divided into groups where the first and second groups, who eventually achieved success, provided clarification of the instructions. This ensured peer education, where the learners were able to
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