51. Variable Rewards are Powerful

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Rewards (binary/octet-stream)

Caption: : photo from UK school trips

A rat is in a cage with a bar and when he presses the bar he gets rewarded with a treat. But what if when the rat presses the bar not every time he gets a treat. B.F. Skinner tested this out and found out which ever scenario effected the way the rat pushed the bar. Here are 2 types of schedules: Interval schedule- the rat is rewarded with a treat in a certain interval of time he pushed the bar. Lets say 5 minutes. So the rat would get a treat when he pushes the bar with the time is up. Ratio Schedule- instead of time, the rat gets the treat with the number of time it pushes the bar. Lets say every 10 times it is pressed.  

There is also something else. There is fixed or variable variations on each schedule. Fix schedule keeps the same interval or ratio, 5minutes or 10 pushes. Variable is a vary of time or ratio, yet it averages. Lets say sometimes you change it to every 2 minutes instead 5 or 8 minutes, but it averages out to 5minutes. Here are 4 possible schedules: Fixed Interval- The reward is presented based on time and the time interval is the same, always. Variable Interval- The reward is based on time and the amount of time varies, but averages to a specific time. Fixed Ratio- The reward is based on the amount of times the bar is pushed and the number is the same, always. Variable Ratio- The reward is presented based on the number the bar is pushed and the number varies but averages to a specific ratio.  

What the Casinos know

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Carl Raw 563328 Unsplash (binary/octet-stream)

Caption: : Photo by Carl Raw on Unsplash

If you ever been to Las Vegas you've seen a variable ratio schedule without even knowing it. The slot machine is set up where you put in money and press the button. The winnings is not based on time, but instead the number of participate. It also isn't a fixed schedule, but a variable schedule. You won't know when you'll win; however, you do know the odds are in your favor the more times you play. Therefore, the casino makes the money the more times you play versus the one time you win.