TOPIC 2-Part I

Basic Principles of Behaviour Modification

 Outline

• Reinforcement
• Extinction
• Punishment
• Stimulus Control
• Respondent Conditioning
Reinforcement

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Reinforcement:
Is a basic principle of behavior
Was established by Skinner in laboratory research and over 40 years
of human research
Is a component of many (most) Behavior Modification procedures

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Defining Reinforcement
1. The occurrence of a behavior
2. Results immediately in a consequence
3. The behavior is strengthened (more likely to occur
again in the future in similar circumstances)

Present: Behavior is followed by a consequence

Future: Behavior is more likely to occur

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 Reinforcement or not?
1. Man chooses lottery ticket from a specific gas station, wins lottery, continues
to buy lottery tickets from same gas station
2. Teenager plays music loud, mom comes into his room and sits by him and
asks him how his day was, kid less likely to play music loud

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What is a Reinforcer?

The consequence (stimulus or event) that follows operant behavior

and strengthens operant behavior

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Some notes on terminology
You reinforce behavior, not people
Reinforcement is a process
Reinforcer is a thing
Reward vs reinforcers

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Two types of reinforcement
Positive reinforcement
Negative reinforcement

Both positive reinforcement and negative reinforcement strengthen

behavior - they make the behavior more likely to occur in the future

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What is Positive Reinforcement?

Behavior is followed by the presentation of a stimulus

(a reinforcer) and the behavior is strengthened
Examples?

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What is Negative Reinforcement?

Behavior is followed by the removal of a stimulus (a

punisher / aversive stimulus) and the behavior is
strengthened
Examples?

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Reinforcement
Reinforcement increases behavior.

Positive Reinforcement

Teacher praises

Behavior

Turn homework in on time

Negative Reinforcement

Teacher stops criticizing

What is the effect on
the behavior?
Escape and avoidance behaviors:
are involved in negative reinforcement
Escape - the behavior results in the termination of (escape from) the
aversive stimulus and the behavior is strengthened.
Avoidance - the behavior results in the prevention of (avoidance of)
the aversive stimulus and the behavior is strengthened.

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Reinforcement
Reinforcement increases behavior.

Behavior Avoidance Reinforcement

Negative stimulus never
Avoid negative stimulus
occurs

What is the effect on the behavior?

Positive and Negative Reinforcement in the Same Situation

Tantrum in a grocery store

Child’s tantrum behavior is strengthened by getting candy from a

parent (positive reinforcement)
Parent’s behavior of giving candy to child is strengthened by
termination of the tantrum (negative reinforcement)

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Unconditioned Reinforcers
Biologically determined - survival value for the individual
Food, water, human contact (warmth), oxygen, sexual contact, escape
from cold, heat, pain, extreme levels of stimulation

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Conditioned Reinforcers
A previously neutral stimulus
- repeatedly paired with an established reinforcer (an
unconditioned or conditioned reinforcer)
- will function as a reinforcer

Examples of Conditioned Reinforcers

Sight, sound, and scent of parents
Parents’ smile, tone of voice, attention, praise
Types of toys, TV shows, music, clothes, activities
Grades, positive evaluations
Accomplishments (social, physical)
Money
Others
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Schedules of Reinforcement

Specifies which responses will be followed by the

reinforcer

Continuous reinforcement - Each response is

followed by the reinforcer
Intermittent reinforcement - Not every response is
followed by a reinforcer

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Before reward,

The number of behavior/amount of time is

Fixed schedule
always the same.

The number of behavior/time is unpredictable. Variable schedule

… refer to the amount of time (that must be Interval schedule

performed before a behavior is rewarded).

… involved number of behavior (that must be

Ratio schedule
performed before a behavior is rewarded).

19
Fixed Ratio Schedules
Reinforcer after X number of responses - the number does not
change
Produces high rate / post reinforcement pause
Examples: piece rate pay
classroom uses

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Schedules of Reinforcement

Ratio Interval
Fixed Fixed ratio Fixed interval
Variable Variable ratio Variable interval

21
Variable Ratio Schedules
Reinforcer after X number of responses on the average
Produces high rate / no post-reinforcement pause
Examples: work and classroom uses
slot machine, phone solicitors

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Fixed Interval Schedules

Reinforcer for the first response after X amount of

time - time interval does not change
Produces low rate of responding that increases at the
end of the interval
Rarely used in ABA
Examples: mail delivery every 2 hours
hourly supervisor checks on a worker

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Variable Interval Schedules
Reinforcer for the first response after X amount of time on the
average
Produces low but steady rate of behavior
Rarely used in ABA
Examples: unpredictable supervisor checks, checking for phone or e-
mail messages

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 Extinction

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Defining Extinction
1. A previously reinforced behavior
2. Is no longer followed by the reinforcing consequence
3. The behavior is weakened (decreases and stops occurring in the
future)

• Present: The behavior is no longer reinforced

• Future : The behavior stops occurring

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Examples of Extinction
Push the button in a broken garage door opener – garage door
does not open. **In the future……
Drinking from an empty water bottle – do not get any water**
Telling unfunny jokes – get no laughs**
Trying to use a flashlight with dead batteries – get no light**
Calling someone who never answers her phone – do not get
any response**
Parent stops reacting to child misbehavior – child gets no
attention**
Look at you wrist when you no longer wear your watch – get
no time**

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Extinction Burst

• When the reinforcer no longer follows a particular

behavior, three things may happen initially:
1. Increase in frequency, duration, or intensity of the
unreinforced behavior
2. Occurrence of novel behaviors
3. Occurrence of emotional and/or aggressive
behaviors

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Spontaneous Recovery
• The behavior occurs again sometime later after it was eliminated with
extinction
• Behavior occurs in situations where it was reinforced in the past

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Punishment

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Defining Punishment
1. The occurrence of a behavior
2. Is followed immediately by a consequence
3. The behavior is less likely to occur in the future
(decrease in the future probability of the behavior)

Present: Behavior is followed by a consequence

Future: Behavior is less likely to occur

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What is Positive Punishment?
1. Following the behavior
2. An aversive stimulus (punisher) is applied or presented
3. The behavior is less likely to occur in the future

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What is Negative Punishment?
1. Following the behavior
2. A reinforcing stimulus (reinforcer) is withdrawn or removed
3. The behavior is less likely to occur in the future

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Reinforcement (Punishment)
Punishment decreases behavior.
Positive Punishment

Allergic reaction

Behavior Negative Reinforcement

Take aspirin for headache Headache goes away

Negative Punishment
Lose sympathetic attention
What is the effect on of spouse
the behavior?
What is a Punisher?
The stimulus that follows the behavior that results in a decrease in
the future probability of the behavior
Also called an aversive stimulus

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Notes on Terminology
Punishers vs punishment
• Punisher is a thing
• Punishment is a process
Punisher is defined functionally
Punish behavior not people

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Unconditioned Punishers
Events that have biological importance
Punishers that require no conditioning to be effective
Examples:
painful stimuli,
extreme levels of stimulation (heat, cold, auditory,
visual)
removal of unconditioned reinforcers

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Conditioned Punishers
A previously neutral stimulus
Is paired with an established punisher
Becomes a punisher itself
Examples of conditioned punishers **
“no”, reprimands, threats, warnings,
facial expressions of disapproval

** Determined by their effect on the behavior

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Punishers vs Reinforcers
When a punisher is delivered following a behavior, the
behavior is less likely to occur (decreases) in the future.
(positive punishment)
When a punisher is removed following a behavior, the behavior
is more likely to occur (increases) in the future. (negative
reinforcement)
When a reinforcer is delivered following a behavior, the
behavior is more likely to occur (increases) in the future.
(positive reinforcement)
When a reinforcer is removed following the behavior, the
behavior is less likely to occur (decreases) in the future.
(negative punishment)

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Question?