Instrumental Learning Theory

OPERANT CONDITIONING/ CLASSICAL CONDITIONING- B F SKINNER

BEHAVIOURAL LEARNING THEORY

1. INSTRUMENTAL LEARNING

2. It is a type of associative learning process through which the strength of a behavior is modified by reinforcement or punishment. In other words we can say that in operant conditioning, an association is made between a behavior and a consequence (whether negative or positive) for that behavior . INSTRUMENTAL LEARNING/ OPERANT CONDITIONING B.F Skinner is regarded as the father of operant conditioning, but his work was based on E.L.Thorndike’s “Law of Effect” 20 th century’s preeminent scientific psychologist Radical Behaviourist Believed that if psychology is a science it cannot study anything that is not directly observable, he considered mind as a black box which we cannot directly perceive. The Behavior of Organisms (1938) BURRHUS FREDERIC SKINNER

3. SKINNER BOX EXPERIMENT

4. TWO CONSEQUENCES OF BEHAVIOUR REINFORCEMENT : It is the application or removal of a stimulus to increase the strength of a special behavior PUNISHMENT : A procedure by which the application or removal of a stimulus decreases the strength of a behavior ABC CONTINGENCY IN OPERANT CONDITIONING A stimulus/event that occurs prior to a behaviour An observable and measurable action that an organism display A stimulus/event that occurs after a behaviour

5. VE VE VE VE REINFORCEMENT REINFORCEMENT PUNISHMENT PUNISHMENT ADDING STIMULUS REMOVING STIMULUS INCREASES BEHAVIOUR DECREASES BEHAVIOUR Eg: If studying is followed by a high grade on an exam, then the incidence of studying before exams will increase. Eg: If leaving a study area removes you from a noisy classmate , then the time you spend away from the study area will increase. Eg: If your professor embarrasses you for asking a question in class , then the likelihood you will ask questions in class will decrease. Eg: After two children get into a fight over who gets to play with a new toy, the mother simply takes the toy away from both children.

6. SCHEDULE OF REINFORCEMENT CONTINUOUS REINFORCEMENT PARTIAL REINFORCEMENT FIXED RATIO VARIABLE RATIO FIXED INTERVAL VARIABLE INTERVAL INTERVAL SCHEDULE RATIO SCHEDULE FIXED VARIABLE

7. CONCLUSION Operant conditioning fails to take into account the role of inherited and cognitive factors in learning, and thus is an incomplete explanation of the learning process in humans and animals. But still it can be applied in child rearing, classrooms, prisons and psychiatric hospitals. Operant conditioning can also be used to explain a wide variety of behaviors, from the process of learning to addiction and language acquisition. Understanding the principles of operant conditioning are important to identify faulty learning and to provide an opportunity to learn normative behavior by unlearning criminal behavior.

8. THANK YOU Submitted by: Anjana S Kumar Course: M.A./M.Sc. in Applied Criminology and Police Studies Semester: 2 Paper: Criminal and Forensic Psychology Submitted to: Dr. Abhishek Sharma