5.4-5.12: Operant Conditioning Flashcards
Operant Conditioning
the learning of Voluntary Behavior through the effects of pleasant and unpleasant consequences of a Response
Law of Effect (founder and def)
Thorndike, if an act is followed by a pleasurable consequence, it will be repeated. If an act is followed by an unpleasurable consequence, it will be avoided.
Skinner
a Behaviorist coined the term Operant Conditioning to explain why organisms choose to make certain decisions
Reinforcement (founder and def)
Skinner, any event or stimulus after a Response that increases the chance of that Response happening again
Reinforcers
items or events following a response that increase the chance of that same response
Primary Reinforcers
fulfills a basic, biological need such as hunger, thirst, or touch
Secondary Reinforcers
reinforces through its past association with Primary Reinforcer such as praise, tokens, or money
Positive Reinforcement
Reinforcement of a Response by the addition of a pleasurable consequence
Secondary Reinforcement
Reinforcement of a Response by the removal or avoidance of an unpleasurable consequence
Partial Reinforcement Effect
the tendency for a Response that is reinforced by some, but not all, correct Responses to be resistant to extinction
Continuous Reinforcement
the Reinforcement of each and every correct Response
Fixed Interval Schedule of Reinforcement
interval of time passed before Reinforcement is always the same
Variable Interval Schedule of Reinforcement
interval of time before Reinforcement is different for each trial
Fixed Ratio Schedule of Reinforcement
the number of responses in order to receive Reinforcement is the same each trial
Variable Ratio Schedule of Reinforcement
number of responses required for Reinforcement changes each time
Punishment
an event or object following a Response that makes the Response less likely to happen again
Punishment by Application
an unpleasant stimulus is applied after the Response
Punishment by Removal
behavior is punished by the removal of something pleasurable
Discriminative Stimulus
stimulus that provides an organism with a cue for making a Response in order to obtain Reinforcement
Shaping
Reinforcement of simple steps in a Behavior through successive approximations that lead to a desired, more complex behavior
Successive Approximations (founder and def)
Skinner, small steps one after another that get closer to the goal
Instinctive Drift
The Brelands, tendency for animal’s behavior to revert to its genetically controlled patterns
Behavior Modification
use of learning and Operant Conditioning techniques to change behavior
Token Economy
use of Secondary Reinforcers that can be accumulated and traded in to Reinforce Behavior
Applied Behavior Analysis
use Behavioral Modification techniques to mold a desired Behavior or Response
Biofeedback
using Biological conditions to bring involuntary Responses under voluntary control
Neurofeedback
form of Biofeedback with brain-scanning devices to modify behavior
Latent Learning (founder and def)
Tolman, learning that remains hidden until applicable
Insight (Founder and def)
Kohler, the sudden perception of relationships among various parts of the problem that allows the solution to come quickly
Learned Helplessness
Seligman, the tendency to fail a task due to a history of repeated failures
