LP 8A applying operant cond 1 Education By using the processes of shaping and positive reinforcement, we can make schools a place where students are challenged, successful and can enjoy themselves, rather than a place where kids get into trouble, fail and are frustrated (page 233) [how is this related to classical conditioning and negative reinforcement?] Teacher A: ignored good behavior and scolded misbehavior and offered threats. She made reprimands and other punishments at a rate of about 1 per minute. Teacher A (reversal): ignored bad behavior (extinction) and praised them for good behavior. At the beginning of the study she was giving positive comments about 1 per 15 minutes and approached 1 per 2 minutes at the end of the study. Her tendency to criticize dropped to once per 6 minutes.
LP 8A applying operant cond 2 When she focused on positive behavior of two students who were not engaged and creating problems, Cliff worked harder, and learned to ignore other children s misbehavior. Frank did his work, asked for extra assignments, and volunteered to do things to help his teacher.
LP 8A applying operant cond 3 Self-injurious behavior Punishments (electric shocks) reduced one boy s self-injurious behavior of hitting himself (dropped from 300 in a 10 minute periods). Other researchers found that reinforcing incompatible behavior reduced problem behavior. To reduce problem behavior, researchers periodically provided food to an 8-year old if he played steadily with a ball rather than hitting himself in the face. Within 40 minutes, the rate of punching fell by 90% (page 240). Previously, it we believed that these self-injurious behaviors were due to developmental problems. Operant conditioning was not a consideration.
LP 8A applying operant cond 4 Self-control Self-control refers to the tendency to do things now that affect our later behavior. Usually when we exert self-control, we do something that is in our own long-term interests (page 242). Examples include drinking in moderation, avoiding seconds on desserts, giving up smoking or studying now instead of socializing with friends, or Most situations that involve self-control involve choices that have positive consequences now, but negative consequences later. To have self-control, we make choices that benefit us in the future, and not immediately. We postpone immediate reinforcement for later reinforcers (which may be less tangible). When we are able to exert self-control, we may need to remind ourselves that we have exerted self-control in the past to make ourselves successful today. There are several strategies of self-control discussed in your text: Physical restraint Distancing Monitoring behavior
LP 8A applying operant cond 5 Self-Control: Physical Restraint Physical restraint means doing something that physically prevents a behavior from occurring. Locking liquor away in a cupboard Giving your cigarettes to a friend Destroying your credit cards Keeping as little junk food in the house
LP 8A applying operant cond 6 Self-Control: Distancing Some behaviors that require you to avoid situations that lead to undesired behaviors. If you have a drinking problem, avoid places where you normally drink If you have a spending problem, avoid internet shopping websites or the mall If you have troubles with having desserts, turn down the dessert menu. A similar technique to distancing is distracting. Find a task that in incompatible with the unwanted behavior If you want to refrain from an angry conversation, start a different conversation with someone else If faced with temptation of snacking on potato chips or brownies, distract yourself by reading, watching a video, do chores, play a game. The distracting task should not produce more bad habits.
LP 8A applying operant cond 7 Self-Control: Monitoring Behavior A person who engages in behavior they want under control is to monitor their behavior they need to count how often it occurs. Seeing the actual frequency of how often you eat junk food, spend money, smoke makes it easier to see how often you do it and see if your behavior is changing.
LP 8A applying operant cond 8 Self-Control: Inform others of your goals The person who would like to stop their bad habits may want to make their intentions public. They may want to tell the friends and family that they are committed to self-control and/or change. Friends can encourage us and become supportive of our changes and can reinforce us for not smoking, eating healthier, doing well at school (you may want to tell them to reinforce you for the appropriate behavior, and you want to make sure you have friends and family who are supportive)
LP 8A applying operant cond 9 Delusions Delusions are false beliefs such as Everyone is out to get me everyone is talking about me, especially in the summer when it is hot out that cannot be substantiated.
LP 8A applying operant cond 10 Learned Helplessness Seligman wanted to classically conditioned dogs to associate a tone to the pain of an electric shock. In order to do this, the dogs were harnessed and could not avoid electric shocks. It was expected that the dogs would be undergoing operant conditioning (negative reinforcement) to avoid the electric shocks. However, when the harnesses were removed, the dogs did nothing to escape the electric shocks. Another group of dogs that were never harnessed learned to avoid electric shocks by jumping over a barrier.
LP 8A applying operant cond 11 The dog s reacted by being passive and not escaping the electric shocks when unharnessed. Martin Seligman described this behavior as learned helplessness. Learned helplessness: A phenomenon in which repeated exposure to inescapable, uncomfortable, or uncontrollable aversive events produce passive behavior. Learned Helplessness: Martin Seligman and the Dogs: The dogs are Harnessed Electric Shocks are delivered The dogs tried to escape, but cannot Then The dogs are unharnessed Electric shocks are delivered The dogs do not try to escape and acted passive Dogs don t try to escape an adverse condition (even when they can) because they have learned in the past that any attempt doesn t help.
LP 8A applying operant cond 12 Learned Helplessness and Voting: Fewer people are turning out to vote People vote for candidates based on how they feel about the candidate and not on issues Politicians are elected on an emotional appeal and not on issues voters want addressed and lobbyists have a strong influence on voting. Political issues do not get addressed. The next time people try to vote
LP 8A applying operant cond 13 5/5/2011 What are real-life examples of learned helplessness (and perhaps their cause)? Political process: People are becoming discouraged with the political process and not turning out to vote because nothing gets done. Weight loss programs: There are many weight loss programs (including those that use hypnosis Chapter 4) that are ineffective that they discourage people. Cell phones and driving: The reason why driving while talking on cell phones is due to divided attention. This problem is still present with hands free phones and may reduce a small portion of the problem, but not a majority of the problems. Studying for class: Students with poor study skills or are using ineffective strategies start to give up on their classes and resign themselves to poor grades. Stopping Attacks on American Troops: American troops are under constant attack by Iraqis. Killing Saddam Huessin s sons (Uday and Kusay) will probably lead to learned helplessness because it fails to understand why our troops are not seen as liberators.
LP 8A applying operant cond 14 5/5/2011 What are common examples where learned helplessness can occur? War on Terrorism Banking crisis of 2008 Dealing with problems of CEOs and CFOs cooking the books Dating Getting a job Not having the job skills or connections Rules not being applied equally or fairly Rules created to bias a particular group based on criteria irrelevant to the job. Improving our marriage or relationship Abusive relationships What can be done to reduce the perception of learned helplessness?