Operant Conditioning
Categories of Positive Reinforcers
Tangible
Social
Activity
Token Reinforcers
Tangible Reinforcers
You can touch them
CDs
Guitars
Social Reinforcers
Types
Applause
Laughter
Nods
Smiles
Activity Reinforcers
Premack Principle
High Probability Behavior
Low Probability Behavior
Token Reinforcers
are secondaryreinforcers
tokens are exchangedfor other reinforcers
Examples
money
frequent flyer miles
ESSO gas points
Reinforcement
Different Stokes for Different Folks
How do we know when something will bereinforcing?
(a) watch them(b) by asking them(c) complete a Reinforcement SurveySchedule
Reinforcer Sampling
a procedure were clients are given ageneralized reinforcer without having tobehavior to earn it
after they are hooked on the reinforcer,then they will be required to behave toobtain the reinforcer
Administering Reinforcers
can be done in three ways
1) by other people2) by the person3) as a natural consequence
Making Positive Reinforcement Effective
1) deprivation
making a reinforcer scarce canmake it more valuable
satiation can be viewed as theopposite deprivation
Making Positive Reinforcement Effective
2) Instructions
instructing someone (whosebehavior is to be reinforced)what is involved in obtainingreinforcement
Making Positive Reinforcement Effective
3) Amount of Reinforcer
the greater the amount ofreinforcement, the moreeffective it will be
Making Positive Reinforcement Effective
4) Reinforcer Variety
the more varied and diverse thereinforcers, the more effectiveit will be
Making Positive Reinforcement Effective
5) Reinforcer Contrast Effects
involves the history ofreinforcement an individual hasexperienced
negative and positive contrast
Crespi effects
Making Positive Reinforcement Effective
6) Reinforcement Delay
immediate reinforcers are moreeffective than delayedreinforcers
Guidelines for the effective applicationof Positive Reinforcement
1. Select the behavior to be increasedbe specific
2. Select a reinforcer
3. Apply Positive Reinforcementuse lots of praise and physical contact, but vary thetypes of reinforcers
4. Wean the individual from the Programswitch to an intermittent schedule of reinforcementchange from tangible to social reinforcers
Autism
Autism
approx. 1 in 2500 births
organically based disorder
not due to inadequate parenting
coined by Kanner in 1943
Autism
1) Deficits in Social Behaviour
little attachment, eye contact
prefer to be alone, do not interactwith peers
2) Language deficits
50 % do not develop functionalspeech
echolalia (repeats speaker insteadof answering speaker)
3) Ritualistic Behaviour
same environment, line up objects,unusual fixations
carry certain items with them
Autism
4) Sensory Deficits
5) Self injurious behaviour
inflicts physical damage to self
head banging, self biting ofhands and wrists
6) Self Stimulation
body rocking, spinning in circles,darting movements
rocking foot to foot, doesn’t playwith toys in a normal way
7) Inappropriate Affect
flattened, excessive orinappropriate expression
Autism – Associated Features
50% IQs LT 70
Savants
have exceptional ability in one area
“Autistic Savant”
have extraordinaryskills not exhibited bymost persons.
“idiot savants” (Frenchfor unlearned skill)
Epidemiology
10% prevalence in autism
1% prevalence in non-autistic individuals
Areas of Ability
Numbers
Dates
Art
Music
Modifying AutismwithPositive Reinforcement
Lovaas Film
Autism Questions
1) How were Lisa’s tantrums modified?
2) What happened to Pam and Ricky?
3) What were the strengths of thebehavioral approach to treating autism?
4) What were the weaknesses of thebehavioral approach to treating autism?
Video Highlights
1) How were Lisa’s tantrums modified?
Tantrums ignored
Extinction bursts
Positive reinforcers?
Kissing, food, and verbal praise.
Video Highlights
2) What happened to Pam and Ricky?
initially taught parts of speech, then were transferred to a statehospital in which the staff were untrained to continue teaching
Pam and Ricky lost most of their communication skills.
Pam remained at state hospital, only able to attend to simplehousehold tasks.
Ricky lived in a small teaching home, lost most of his language skills(and spontaneity), but developed some recreational skills (rug hooking)
Design: ABA Design: treatment promoted positive behaviour, but in theabsence of training, these behaviours were lost
Video Highlights
3) Strengths of Intervention
Increase in language skills
Decrease in self injurious behaviour
More treatment yield moreimprovement
Video Highlights
4) Weaknesses of Intervention
1. Limited gains
2. Tended to regress when treatmentwas removed