Course Title: Principles of Behavior 104
Instructor: James O'Heare, CABC, CDBC, PABC
Course Description:
Principles of Behavior 104 is an in-depth exploration of the principles of behavior. This course is designed to cultivate in the student a strong foundation repertoire in the principles and the science of behavior. This course will address all of the basic principles of behavior including those of both respondent and operant conditioning. The course begins with a detailed examination of the natural science of behavior, behavior analysis and this is contrasted and compared with other approaches such as psychology, ethology and the medical model approach. This course will be of interest to anyone who wants to develop a strong and comprehensive appreciation of the science of behavior and the science and technology of behavior.
Learning Objectives:
Upon completing this course, the student will be able to:
- Describe the assumptions of the natural science of behavior, and distinguish this approach to behavior from others: psychology, ethology and the medical model orientation
- Define, contract and compare sensitization and habituation
- Define, contrast and compare operant and respondent behaviors as well as operant and respondent conditioning
- Define key terms utilized in the science of behavior
- Describe the Law of Effect
- Define and relate the 5 basic principles of operant conditioning: Extinction, +R, +P, -R, -P
- Describe the 3-term contingency and relationships between each of the terms
- Identify and describe variables affecting operant conditioning
- Describe respondent conditioning and the four basic respondent conditioning procedures (i.e., trace, delayed, simultaneous, backward)
- Describe respondent extinction
- Identify and describe variables affecting respondent conditioning
- Define, contrast and compare conditioned and unconditioned reinforcers
- Describe the problematic secondary effects of aversive stimulation
- Define and discuss learned helplessness
- Define the compound procedure differential reinforcement, including different types, and explain how it can be utilized as an alternative to aversive control of behavior
- Identify the basic schedules of reinforcement and describe their effects on the rate or frequency of behavior
- Define, contrast and compare generalization and discrimination
- Define stimulus control and explain how it is transferred
Topics Covered in Primary Course Text:
- Natural selection and behavior
- Reflexes
- Fixed action patterns
- General Behavior traits
- Evolution of learning
- Nature versus nurture
- Learning defined
- Measuring learning
- Research design
- Anecdotal evidence
- Case studies
- Descriptive studies
- Experimental studies
- Respondent conditioning procedures
- Higher order conditioning
- Variables affecting respondent conditioning
- Pairing CS and US
- Contingency
- Contiguity
- Stimulus features
- Prior experience
- Number of CS-US pairings
- Intertrial interval
- Respondent extinction
- Respondent conditioning and fear
- Operant conditioning and its four procedures:
- Positive reinforcement
- Negative reinforcement
- Positive punishment
- Negative punishment
- Contrasting and comparing operant and respondent conditioning
- Conditioned and unconditioned reinforcers
- Operant extinction
- Extinction bursts
- Spontaneous recovery
- Resurgence
- Shaping and chaining behaviors
- Variables affecting operant conditioning:
- Contingency
- Contiguity
- Reinforcer characteristics
- Punisher intensity
- Task characteristics
- Motivating operations
- Introductory level of punishment
- Reinforcement of punished behavior
- Alternative sources of reinforcement for punished behavior
- Problematic secondary effects of aversive stimulation:
- Escape
- Aggression
- Apathy (global behavioral suppression)
- Abuse
- Countercontrol
- Constructional versus eliminative approaches to behavior change
- Alternatives to aversive suppression of behavior:
- Differential reinforcement
- Self-control versus impulsivity
- Superstitious behavior
- Learned helplessness and disempowerment
- Vicarious learning
- Generalization and discrimination
- Stimulus control
- Schedules of reinforcement
- Continuous reinforcement
- Fixed ratio and variable ratio
- Fixed interval and variable interval
- Fixed duration and variable duration
- Limited hold
- Intermittent reinforcement
- Complex schedules of reinforcement
- Choice and matching law
- Differential reinforcement procedures
- Forgetting
- Limits of learning:
- Physical characteristics
- Nonheritability of learned behavior
- Heritability and learning ability
- Neurological damage and learning
- Sensitive periods
Texts:
- Learning and Behavior 6th edition by Paul Chance (click here)
- General Behaviorology by Lawrence E. Fraley, Chapter 1. Natural Science of Behavior at http://www.behaviorology.org/pdf/gGenBgCh1NatlSciBeh.pdf
- Course Notes
Course Evaluation:
This course will be evaluated by short essay assignments that will reflect and demonstrate mastery of the course topics and achievement of the learning objectives. The final grade will be the mean average of the assignment grades.
Prerequisites: None
CEUs: Continuing Education Credits Available. See Course Approvals page for credits.