Introduction
Operant conditioning or instrumental conditioning is type of learning which involves the modification of individual’s behavior through consequences. Individual’s behavior might be maneuvered in strength, frequency and form. Based on bedroom reading, being in bed means one is reading while in his or her bed. This is usually a good way of getting to sleep especially when reading is boring. It does not necessarily means that one is seated but also lying in bed. Being in bed and asleep means that one is in bed and he or she is totally slumbering. That is, his or her common senses especially the sight is not functioning. Being in bed and lights out means though one is lying in bed and his or her eyes closed, he or she is not actually asleep he or she might be lacking sleep.
Reinforcement is a consequence that shapes the behavior and its occurrence with greater frequency. When a behavior is producing no consequences, it will occur less often. When reinforcement of a behavior is withdrawn with either positive or negative reinforcement, it leads to decline in that behavior. Positive reinforcement occurs a response is preceded by a stimulus, which is rewarding; this usually leads to increase in behavioral frequency. Negative reinforcement usually known as escape occurs when a response precedes the withdrawal of an aversive stimulus which causes increase the frequency of behavior.
When a child exhibits a deterrent behavior, guardians and parents need to lay strategies that are aimed at reducing search behavior. The sleeping or the daily performance environment could be challenging to the child. Parents or guardians need to take the challenge of the child as theirs. In an attempt to reduce undesirable behavior like poor sleeping habits in children, parents and guardians should use positive reinforcers that appeal to children and sometimes-negative reinforcers can be applied. Parents and guardians can use positive and negative reinforcement that appeal and encourage children to sleep well. Positive reinforcement will include planning reinforcement, which will include operating under timetable. This will include establishing specific times for sleeping and waking up. Children will be encouraged to sleep well by showing them the importance of sleeping well which include showing positivity towards sleeping. Pharmacological therapy and behavioral therapy are also important as recommended by psychologist Jack Edinger, PhD and his colleagues as they tried to address insomnia. Long-term results can be achieved through encouraging behavioral therapy than pharmacological and for the sake of children; behavioral therapy is important and recommendable.
Punishment by contingent stimulation happens when a certain behavior is followed by a known stimulus like introducing a soft lullaby musical instrument in the bedroom to lure the child into sleeping. This move denotes addition of a stimulus into the child environment that is quit aversive.
Negative punishment also known as penalty is said to take place a certain behavior enhances removal of a certain stimuli from the child’s environment. An example is where by one takes off a toy or switches off the television for the child to go to sleep. This leads to a decrease in the occurrence of the behavior.
Fixed ratio schedule is a type scheduling where by a response is reinforced only after a specified period when a specified number of responses has been received. It is a procedure known for producing a steady responding rate constituting of a brief pause after one reinforces the delivery.
In the process of taking the child in bed by 9:00 pm, it is of important to note that for a child or any other being to adapt to a new environment, a constant administration of the intended behaviour for the child to adapt to the new environment is essential. This being a psychological implementation of a change will require a continuous practice that ensures the child is used to sleeping by this time. Ensuring that the child has finished all his assignments and has taken dinner by 8:30 pm daily helps the child in creating his own time to cover all his activities during the day. It is a method that not only equips the child with self-responsibility features, but also creates a habit in the child’s daily actions.
This method is the most recommended for use when learning a new behaviour. A fixed ratio schedule ensures that the new learners is used to effect of the occurrence of a certain event after a given period of time. This helps the child in setting up the mind to respond to certain times as experienced in the past. It has been psychologically proved that the act of recurrently doing a certain act will build a habit or even lead to addiction of the same. For example, after administering the fixed habit for the child to be sleeping immediately after supper at 8:30 PM, he will automatically shut down past that time since the body has got used to that habit.
It is normal for the child to have a pause after the first reinforcement of the first time but he is supposed to resume to responding quickly in time.
