Week 4 (3) TOPIC: REINFORCEMENT AND PUNISHMENT What is Reinforcement and Punishment?

1. Week 4 (3) • TOPIC: REINFORCEMENT AND PUNISHMENT • What is Reinforcement and Punishment? • Types: Reinforcement , Punishment and schedules of Reinforcement. • Application in school context. • LP: B.Ed II (4Yr.) • Tuesday 24th August, 2010

2. In a perfect world, our students could • Be on time to class • Be prepared for class and know how to study • Know how to behave • Respect everyone in class with them…including the teacher…

3. So, what is the alternative? We must provide some type of reinforcement for the behavior. Choices: (1) Positive Reinforcement (2) Punishment (3) Negative Reinforcement (4) Extinction

4. What is Reinforcement? Means to strengthen, and is used in psychology to refer to anything stimulus which strengthens or increases the probability of a specific response. Types: Positive Reinforcement: Occurs when a behavior in response to a situation is met by a 'reward’. (Adding something in order to increase a response). Negative Reinforcement: Taking something away in order to increase a response.

5. What is positive reinforcement? Scenario: Johnny is always late for class because his gorgeous girl friend’s class is at the other end of the hall and he has to see her. You mention to him that it is important to get to class on time. The next day he is on time to class. When he does this, you………………..

6. Say to yourself, “Finally,” and do not • acknowledge him because he is finally doing • what everyone else does. • Give him a pat on the back and say, “It’s • good to see you here on time!” • Embarrass him by saying,” Well, finally! • Look who’s here!”

7. If you use positive reinforcement, you would…. • Choose b. Pat him on the back and tell him • you are glad to see him. • Reasoning: You are asking him to give up • something that is important to him……time • with the girlfriend. If that positive • encounter is not replaced by another, he will • return to his previous behavior. • What are the chances he will continue being • on time?

8. Punishment: Adding Something aversive in order to decrease a behavior. Extinction: When you remove something in order to decrease a behavior.

9. Dennis says it all…….. “So, Dad, what will you give me if I leave Mr. Wilson alone?”

10. Types of reinforcement • Verbal reinforcement • Gestural reinforcement • Proximity reinforcement • Activity reinforcement • Token reinforcement • Principles of reinforcement • Meaningfulness – value & time • Variety –‘variety is the spice of life’ • Warmth and enthusiasm – wholeheartedly

11. Reinforcement Schedules Continuous Schedule: Application occurs after every project, behavior, etc. This is the best approach when using punishment. Fixed Ratio. Applying the reinforcement after a specific number of behaviors. Fixed Interval. Applying the reinforcer after a specific amount of time. Variable Schedule: When reinforcement is applied on an irregular basis. Variable Ratio: Applying a reinforcer after a variable number of responses. Variable Interval. Reinforcing someone after a variable amount of time.

12. Scenario …………. John is a “blurter.” Every time you ask a question, he yells out the answer. Dirty looks do not help. Finally, you keep him after class and discuss his immature behavior with him. The next day he frantically raises his hand when you ask a question. You………

13. Scenario continued….. (1) Ignore him because he is finally doing the “right” thing and others are finally getting to answer. (2) Call on him at the end of class. (3) Call on him immediately and tell him privately how much you appreciate his improved behavior.

14. Methods for Encouraging behavior – Positive Reinforcement Praise:Teachers can improve student behavior by praising students who are following rules and ignoring rule-breakers. The Premack Principle:A high-frequency behavior (a preferred activity) can be an effective reinforcer for a low-frequency behavior (a less-preferred activity). Shaping: Reinforcingprogress instead of waiting for perfection. Positive Practice:A strategy for helping students replace one behavior with another is positive practice.

15. What is Punishment? Is a negative consequence – physical or emotional, or both, administered because of wrong or bad behavior. “Punishment might control misbehavior but does not teach desirable behavior” Presentation Punishment: It occurs when the appearance of a stimulus following the behavior suppresses or decreases the behavior. Removal Punishment: When teachers or parents take away privileges after a child has behaved inappropriately, they are applying removal punishment.

16. Risk of Punishment • The use of punishment of any kind may damage the relationship the child has with the teacher. • The child may develop strategies such as untruthfulness to avoid punishment. • Punishment teaches the child the undesirable lesson that it is acceptable for the strong to impose penalties upon those weaker than themselves.

17. In certain cases, punishment is necessary, but only after reinforcement oriented behavior modification has repetitively failed. Remember “Punishment might control misbehavior but does not teach desirable behavior”

18. Key Learning……… • To change a behavior permanently, the positive reinforcement must continue until the behavior becomes natural. This is why we often fail to help a student change a behavior…..we don’t reinforce the behavior long enough.