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Reinforcement Theory
By Peace | March 31, 2006
Operant Conditioning is the term used by B.F. Skinner to describe the effects of the consequences of a particular behavior on the future occurrence of that behavior. There are four types of Operant Conditioning: Positive Reinforcement, Negative Reinforcement, Punishment, and Extinction. Both Positive and Negative Reinforcement strengthen behavior while both Punishment and Extinction weaken behavior.
- Positive reinforcement. Strengthening a behavior. This is the process of getting goodies as a consequence of a behavior. You make a sale, you get a commission. You do a good job, you get a bonus & a promotion.
- Negative reinforcement. Strengthening a behavior. This is the process of having a stressor taken away as a consequence of a behavior. Long-term sanctions are removed from countries when their human rights records improve. (you see how successful that is!). Low status as geek at Salomon Brothers is removed when you make first big sale.
- Extinction. Weakening a behavior. This is the process of getting no goodies when do a behavior. So if person does extra effort, but gets no thanks for it, they stop doing it.
- Punishment. Weakening a behavior. This is the process of getting a punishment as a consequence of a behavior. Example: having your pay docked for lateness.
| Apply | Withhold | |
| Reward | positive reinforcement (raise above baseline) | negative reinforcement (raise up to baseline) |
| Stressor | punishment (bring down below baseline) | extinction (stay at baseline) |
Reinforcement schedules.
The traditional reinforcement schedule is called a continuous reinforcement schedule. Each time the correct behavior is performed it gets reinforced.
Then there is what we call an intermittent reinforcement schedule. There are fixed and variable categories.
The Fixed Interval Schedule is where reinforcement is only given after a certain amount of time has elapsed. So, if you decided on a 5 second interval then each reinforcement would occur at the fixed time of every 5 seconds.
The Fixed Ratio Schedule is where the reinforcement is given only after a predetermined number of responses. This is often seen in behavior chains where a number of behaviors have to occur for reinforcement to occur.
The Variable Interval Schedule is where the reinforcement is given after varying amounts of time between each reinforcement.
The Variable Ratio Schedule is where the reinforcement is given after a varying number of correct responses.
Fluctuating combinations of primary and secondary reinforcers fall under other terms in the variable ratio schedule; For example, Reinforcers delivered Intermittently in a Randomized Order (RIR) or Variable Ratio with Reinforcement Variety (VRRV).
| Fixed | Variable | |
| Interval | give reward after first proper response following a specified time period
(yearly raise) [short term] |
give reward after a certain amt of time w/ the amt changing before the next reward
(unexpected bonus based on merit) [medium term] |
| Ratio | punishment (subtract from baseline)
(commissions or piecework pay) [medium term] |
give reward after a number of responses, w/ that no. changing before the next reward
(team-based bonus) [long term] |
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December 23rd, 2007 at 11:09 am
[…] Reinforcement Today, as I walked to the church, I again saw the signboard of St Anthony Church that read,”God knows Your Past, And He Offers You A Future. Come In and Find Peace.” I like to read that. It is getting more and more meaningful to me. I ought to believe. He definitely knows me. He definitely knew me and know me well. Every words which I had blogged, every moment that I had thought of and yearned for, everything was mentioned in the church! I can feel myself getting ‘nearer’. […]
December 23rd, 2007 at 11:21 am
[…] Reinforcement Today, as I walked to the church, I again saw the signboard of St Anthony Church that read,”God knows Your Past, And He Offers You A Future. Come In and Find Peace.” I like to read that. It is getting more and more meaningful to me. I ought to believe. He definitely knows me. He definitely knew me and know me well. Every words which I had blogged, every moment that I had thought of and yearned for, everything was mentioned in the church! I can feel myself getting ‘nearer’. […]