[3/27] Week XI: Operative Conditioning [Chapter 6]

Operative condition is about what happens after a behavior has occurred

The LAW of EFFECT: When we lack something, we keep doing it. When we don’t lack
something, we don’t do it anymore. (Thorndike)

- Operative conditioning is about what happens after the behavior has occurred.
- Reinforcers: Increase probability of the behavior recurring
- Positive: adding a non-existent pleasant stimulus
- Negative: Removal of stimulus to force engagement of behavior
- Punishers: Decrease probability of the behavior recurring.
- POSITIVE ≠ GOOD, it means add/apply
- NEGATIVE ≠ BAD, it means subtract/remove
- Example: Objective/Tactic/Obstacle work
- Punishers: Stimuli that seek to decrease the probability of behavior occurring.
- Positive Punishment: Adding unpleasant stimulus
- Negative Punishment: Remove “pleasant” stimulus

Example: You are being tortured to give up intel. Each time you do, the torture stops.
- Behavior: Releasing intel
- Stimulus: Torture

Primary Reinforcers: Reinforces that fulfill basic biological needs or desires, such as
food and sex, that have an innate basis to an organism.
Secondary Reinforcers: Stimuli, such as money or tokens, that acquired value that
aren’t essential to survival.
Continuous Reinforcement: Behavior is reinforced each time it occurs
Partial Reinforcement: Behavior is reinforced intermittently
Fixed: Set (Predictable)
Variable: Random
Interval: Time period
Ratio: Number of occurrences
Fixed Schedule: Set predictable time period
Fixed Ratio: Set number of occurrences
Variable Schedule: Random unpredictable time period
Variable Ratio: Random number of occurrences