Reinforcement Learning in Behavior Science and Artificial Intelligence

The practical use of the concepts "reinforcement" and "punishment" have evolved in two distinct scientific domains. One domain is the psychological and biological sciences a la behaviorists of the 19th and 20th centuries. The second domain is computer science a la artificial intelligence researchers of the 20th century. Behavior scientists generally focus on understanding how biological organisms do behave as a function of their interaction with the environment. Computer scientists within artificial intelligence generally focus on how artificial agents ought to behave in specific environments to maximize cumulative reward or minimize cumulative punishment. This chapter outlines the unique scientific histories of these two areas of reinforcement learning, the commonalities and differences between these two disciplines, and how researchers might combine knowledge from each area to advance their research agenda.