Behavior-Consequence RelationsThe first few slides review the 4 behavior-consequence relations that exist in Instrumental conditioning. You will then read 10 example scenarios describing a behavior change. For each example identify which of the four relations is represented. For each example you are reminded to consider four critical pieces of information before making a decision.

The Consequence of Responding in Instrumental Conditioning

the presentation of a stimulus the removal of a stimulus that is

already present

(The term consequence is used when there is a contingent relationship between a behavior and an event- a consequence is an event that is CAUSED by a behavior . )

Consequences include events that may involve:

Therefore, there are …..

…. Two Types of Contingent Relationships Between a Response and a Consequence

Positive contingency - when a response causes the presentation of a stimulus.

Negative contingency - when a response causes the removal of a stimulus that is already present.

But remember that there are . . .

. . .Different Types of Stimulus Events

Pleasant (desired; appetitive)Unpleasant (undesired, aversive) neutral

NOTE: Some writers use the term “positive” to refer to pleasant events and “negative” to refer to unpleasant events. This leads to logical inconsistencies and confusion. We will use the terms “positive” and “negative” to describe the contingent relationships, NOT the type of stimulus.

Two Types of Effects of Behavior- Consequence Relationships on Behavior

Reinforcement - any contingent relationship between a consequence and response that causes the response to increase in frequency.

Punishment - any contingent relationship between a consequence and response that causes the response to decrease in frequency.

Four Types of Behavior-Consequence Relationships in Instrumental (Operant) Conditioning

PR PP

NP NR

Appetitive Aversive

Positive (Stimulus Added)

Negative (Stimulus Removed)

Contingency

1st Letter: P = positive N = negative

2nd Letter: R = reinforcement P = punishment

Type of Stimulus

= behavior increasesin frequency

= behavior decreasesin frequency

Behavior - Consequence Relationships

All of the following situations are examples of either positive reinforcement, negative reinforcement, positive punishment, or negative punishment. Read each example and identify the type of behavior-event relationship. The answer is on the next page.

Introduction

Behavior - Event RelationshipsExample 1

Zelda always rode her bicycle “no-handed” to show off in front of her boyfriend. One day she was speeding down a hill - no-handed of course - and skidded face-first into a mud puddle. Now Zelda rides her bike with both hands. The behavior of interest (BOI) is riding no-handed.

Behaviorof Interest

EventConsequence

Behavior -Event

Contingency

BehaviorChange

Answer

? ? ? ? ?

Behaviorof Interest

EventConsequence

Behavior -Event

Contingency

BehaviorChange

Answer

? ? ? ? ?

Behavior - Event RelationshipsExample 1

Zelda always rode her bicycle “no-handed” to show off in front of her boyfriend. One day she was speeding down a hill - no-handed of course - and skidded face-fist into a mud puddle. New Zelda rides her bike with both hands. The behavior of interest (BOI) is riding no-handed.

Behaviorof Interest

EventConsequence

Behavior -Event

Contingency

BehaviorChange

Answer

Riding no-handed

Falling Positive Decrease PositivePunishment

Behavior - Event Relationships

Example 2Denise was always embarrassed when she got the

hiccups during a class, so she developed a fast, sure-fire, cure. She holds her breath, counts to fifteen, then releases her breath as she says her name backwards. Now, whenever she has the hiccups, Denise emits this series of behaviors (BOI).

Behaviorof Interest

EventConsequence

Behavior -Event

Contingency

BehaviorChange

Answer

? ? ? ? ?

Behaviorof Interest

EventConsequence

Behavior -Event

Contingency

BehaviorChange

Answer

? ? ? ? ?

Behavior - Event Relationships

Example 2

Behaviorof Interest

EventConsequence

Behavior -Event

Contingency

BehaviorChange

Answer

Series ofBehaviors

HiccupsRemoved

Negative Increase NegativeReinforce-

ment

Denise was always embarrassed when she got the hiccups during a class, so she developed a fast, sure-fire, cure. She holds her breath, counts to fifteen, then releases her breath as she says her name backwards. Now, whenever she has the hiccups, Denise emits this series of behaviors (BOI).

Behavior-Event Relationships

Behaviorof Interest

EventConsequence

Behavior -Event

Contingency

BehaviorChange

Answer

? ? ? ? ?

Example 3One day, while in a traffic jam, Tympannia could not

hear her car radio. She rolled up her car window, thus shutting out the traffic noises. Now, whenever she gets caught in a traffic jam, she rolls up the window (BOI).

Behavior-Event Relationships

Behaviorof Interest

EventConsequence

Behavior -Event

Contingency

BehaviorChange

Answer

Rolling upWindow

AnnoyingTraffic Noise

Removed

Negative Increase NegativeReinforce-

ment

Example 3One day, while in a traffic jam, Tympannia could not

hear her car radio. She rolled up her car window, thus shutting out the traffic noises. Now, whenever she gets caught in a traffic jam, she rolls up the window (BOI).

Behavior-Event RelationshipsExample 4

Flossie’s mother held her hand while the dentist drilled away. Whenever, Flossie began to cry, her mother her mother would let go of her hand and leave the room. When she stopped crying, her mother would return again and hold her hand. As a result, Flossie cried less (BOI) at the dentist.

Behaviorof Interest

EventConsequence

Behavior -Event

Contingency

BehaviorChange

Answer

? ? ? ? ?

Behavior-Event Relationships

Behaviorof Interest

EventConsequence

Behavior -Event

Contingency

BehaviorChange

Answer

Crying MomLeaving

Negative Decrease NegativePunishment

Example 4Flossie’s mother held her hand while the dentist drilled

away. Whenever, Flossie began to cry, her mother her mother would let go of her hand and leave the room. When she stopped crying, her mother would return again and hold her hand. As a result, Flossie cried less (BOI) at the dentist.

Behavior-Event Relationships

Example 5Mary constantly came home late after a date. Her

father scolded her whenever this happened. After a few of these occasions, Mary managed to make it home before curfew. The BOI is coming home late.

Behaviorof Interest

EventConsequence

Behavior -Event

Contingency

BehaviorChange

Answer

? ? ? ? ?

Behavior-Event Relationships

Behaviorof Interest

EventConsequence

Behavior -Event

Contingency

BehaviorChange

Answer

ComingHome Late

BeingScolded by

Dad

Positive Decrease PositivePunishment

Example 5Mary constantly came home late after a date. Her

father scolded her whenever this happened. After a few of these occasions, Mary managed to make it home before curfew. The BOI is coming home late.

Behavior-Event Relationships

Example 6Clem always left his coat and books outside the

cafeteria during lunch. One time after dining he discovered that his coat was missing. Now Clem always locks his books and new coat in the dorm before eating. The BOI is leaving his belongings outside the cafeteria during meals.

Behaviorof Interest

EventConsequence

Behavior -Event

Contingency

BehaviorChange

Answer

? ? ? ? ?

Behavior-Event Relationships

Behaviorof Interest

EventConsequence

Behavior -Event

Contingency

BehaviorChange

Answer

LeavingBelongings

OutsideCafeteria

Coat beingstolen

Negative Decrease NegativePunishment

Example 6Clem always left his coat and books outside the

cafeteria during lunch. One time after dining he discovered that his coat was missing. Now Clem always locks his books and new coat in the dorm before eating. The BOI is leaving his belongings outside the cafeteria during meals.

Behavior-Event Relationships

Example 7Little Tommy pointed to the donut shop as he and his mother

were passing by it. “Mommy, can we get some donuts?” he asked. She slammed on the brakes, wheeled the car into the parking lot, and brought a dozen delicious treats. Several days later they were again passing the donut shop. “Mommy, can we get some donuts?” Tommy asked again. Again his mother complied. Several weeks and twelve dozen donuts later, Tommy was asking for the donuts daily (BOI).

Behaviorof Interest

EventConsequence

Behavior -Event

Contingency

BehaviorChange

Answer

? ? ? ? ?

Behavior-Event Relationships

Behaviorof Interest

EventConsequence

Behavior -Event

Contingency

BehaviorChange

Answer

Asking forDonuts

Gettingdonuts

Positive Increase PositiveReinforce-

ment

Example 7Little Tommy pointed to the donut shop as he and his mother

were passing by it. “Mommy, can we get some donuts?” he asked. She slammed on the brakes, wheeled the car into the parking lot, and brought a dozen delicious treats. Several days later they were again passing the donut shop. “Mommy, can we get some donuts?” Tommy asked again. Again his mother complied. Several weeks and twelve dozen donuts later, Tommy was asking for the donuts daily (BOI).

Behavior-Event Relationships

Example 8Your dog’s coat was full of burrs he while romping

through the field. He cried until you removed them. Since that fateful day, he has cried (BOI) whenever he has burrs in his coat.

Behaviorof Interest

EventConsequence

Behavior -Event

Contingency

BehaviorChange

Answer

? ? ? ? ?

Behavior-Event Relationships

Behaviorof Interest

EventConsequence

Behavior -Event

Contingency

BehaviorChange

Answer

Crying Removal ofBurrs

Negative Increase NegativeReinforce-

ment

Example 8Your dog’s coat was full of burrs he while romping

through the field. He cried until you removed them. Since that fateful day, he has cried (BOI) whenever he has burrs in his coat.

Behavior-Event Relationships

Example 9William wasn’t really much of a writer. One day, for

lack of something better to do, he wrote a poem to his girl, Ophelia. When she read it, she cried sweet tears and whispered, “Oh, William! How beautiful!” Consequently, William regularly turns out love poems (BOI) - and even a few plays.Behaviorof Interest

EventConsequence

Behavior -Event

Contingency

BehaviorChange

Answer

? ? ? ? ?

Behavior-Event Relationships

Behaviorof Interest

EventConsequence

Behavior -Event

Contingency

BehaviorChange

Answer

WritingPoems

Praise fromGirlfriend

Positive Increase PositiveReinforce-

ment

Example 9William wasn’t really much of a writer. One day, for

lack of something better to do, he wrote a poem to his girl, Ophelia. When she read it, she cried sweet tears and whispered, “Oh, William! How beautiful!” Consequently, William regularly turns out love poems (BOI) - and even a few plays.

Behavior-Event Relationships

Example 10Fred was constantly swearing, regardless of what he was doing or was around. One day, Foul Freddie’s wife took his ten-dollar beer allowance from him when she heard him swear. She continued this procedure, and consequently Fred was swearing less and less (BOI) around her.

Behaviorof Interest

EventConsequence

Behavior -Event

Contingency

BehaviorChange

Answer

? ? ? ? ?

Behavior-Event Relationships

Behaviorof Interest

EventConsequence

Behavior -Event

Contingency

BehaviorChange

Answer

Swearing Loss ofAllowance

Negative Decrease NegativePunishment

Example 10Fred was constantly swearing, regardless of what he was doing or was around. One day, Foul Freddie’s wife took his ten-dollar beer allowance from him when she heard him swear. She continued this procedure, and consequently Fred was swearing less and less (BOI) around her.