Schedules of Reinforcement

Schedules of reinforcement refer to the specific rules that determine when a behavior will be reinforced or rewarded. They influence how and when a behavior is strengthened or maintained. For example, a behavior might be reinforced every time it occurs (continuous schedule) or only after a certain number of times (fixed ratio) or after some time has passed (interval schedules). Different schedules shape behaviors in different ways, affecting how quickly they are learned and how long they last. Understanding these schedules helps in designing effective methods for teaching new skills or modifying behavior.