Reinforcement

Reinforcement is the strengthening of a conditioned response by rewarding the target behavior.

Types of reinforcers:   

    Tangible : anything you can touch, monetary rewards and different prizes.

    Social : they can vary but they consist in getting social approval, some examples can be: verbal praise, attention, physical contact. It is easy to use on everyday life and are not very common. In order to use these reinforcements we must take into consideration how other people react for example to physical contact because they may not find it gratifying so the program wont work.

    Environmental : they refer to everything around you, what you can see or smell, the type of chair you seat in, the wall colors, etc.

    Emotional : being recognized as a person by others, feeling included in a group.

Types of reinforcement

     Feedback : provide information about the person’s performance. It refers to knowledge of the results.

          Biofeedback: provide information about different pshysical processes such as blood pressure, heart frequency and muscular tension in order to help the person control such body processes. It is not the strongest method to modify the behavior.

       High probability behaviors : reinforcement to activities with a lower frequency. In order for the low frequency behaviors to increment.

     Chips: Conditioned reinforcers, target behaviors must be specifically explained. High level of effectivity.

Basic requirements:

     •Contingent application of consequences

  •Reinforcement Delay

  •Quantity and magnitude

  •Quality or Type of reinforcer

Reinforcement programs:

Fixed ratio: Reinforce every determined number of responses.

Variable ratio: Give the reinforcement after a variable number of responses.

Fixed interval: After a set period of time we present the reinforcer.

Variable interval: the time of the interval varies and then gives the reinforcer.

Reinforcement techniques to reduce undesirable behaviors:

-Reinforce another behavior: reinforce any other behavior except the undesirable behavior

-Alternative or Incompatible behavior reinforcement

-Functionally equivalent behavior reinforcement

-Low rate response reinforcement