Chapter Eight: Learning

Operant Conditioning in Real Life

INTRODUCTION

If we could understand the environmental circumstances that control our behavior, we could design a world more to our liking. When operant conditioning is applied to commonplace problems, however, their efforts sometime backfire.

WHAT'S AHEAD

• Why do efforts to "crack down" on wrongdoers often go awry?
• What's the best way to discourage a child from throwing tantrums?
• Why does paying children for good grades sometimes backfire?

KEY CONCEPTS

Overview
The Problem with Punishment
The Problem with Reward

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Overview [p.279]

INTRODUCTION

Behaviorists have applied operant principles to a wide variety of real-world settings through behavior modification.

KEY CONCEPTS EXPLAINED

Token economies use secondary reinforcers, like points, to reinforce more desirable behaviors
	Future Fast forward to therapy chapter.

GLOSSARY

	behavior modification
	token economy

LINKS About Behavior Modification

• weblink: token economy and raising kids.

The Problem with Punishment [p.280]
INTRODUCTION

Although punishment is sometimes unquestionably effective, the effects of punishment are far less predictable than most people realize.

KEY CONCEPTS EXPLAINED

...Reasons why punishment often ineffective:

1. Punishment often administered inappropriately.
   
   
2. When punished, people often respond with rage, anxiety, fear, and flight.
   
   
3. "When cat's away, the mice will play" - the effect of punishment may be only temporary.
   
   
4. Misbehavior is often hard to punish immediately -- when punishment would be most effective.
   
   
5. Punishment does not tell recipient what they should be doing instead of misbehaving.
   
   
6. If punishment is seen as attention getting by the punished, then it may be actually perceived as a reinforcement!

...Alternatives to Punishment

• Extinction of undesirable behavior.
  
  
• Reinforcement of substitute desired behaviors.
  
  
• Attempt to understand the purpose of the undesirable behavior.

LINKS About the Corporal Punishment Controversy

• wwwlink: A review of the pro's and con's of corporal punishment.
• wwwlink: Review of the Issues - University of Alabama website.
• wwwlink: Anti-spanking website with many articles.
• wwwlink: Using time-out as an alternative.
• wwwlink: The effects of severe corporal punishment and later behavior.
• wwwlink: A case for corporal punishment of criminals.
• web search: Click on this for search engine results of recent web sites

The Problem with Reward [p.283]

INTRODUCTION

Rewarding something that is inherently pleasurable can screw it up.

KEY CONCEPTS EXPLAINED

...Extrinsic reinforcers

• Outside reinforcers not inherently related to the response.
  
  
• ex: Money, praise, and gold stars.

...Intrinsic reinforcers

• Reinforcement inherently related to the activity.
  
  
• Pure enjoyment of task, satisfaction of accomplishment.

GLOSSARY

	extrinsic reinforcers
	intrinsic reinforcers

LINKS About Intrinsic Rewards

• weblink: intrinsic reward as a coaching technique

the right and wrong way of giving children rewards.

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