6.2- Operant Conditioning

Question 1

operant conditioning

Answer 1

a type of learning in which behaviour is influenced by consequences [liking to eat a restaurant- eating there again]

Question 2

reinforcement

Answer 2

a process in which an event or reward that follows a response increases the likelihood of that response occurring again [changes in behaviour from food]

Question 3

law of effect

Answer 3

the idea that responses followed by satisfaction will occur again in the same situation, whereas those that are not followed by satisfaction become less likely

Question 4

reinforcer

Answer 4

a stimulus that is contingent upon a response and that increases the probability of that response occurring again [the food itself that changes behaviour]

Question 5

punishment

Answer 5

a process that decreases the future probability of a response [opposite of reinforcement]

Question 6

punisher

Answer 6

a stimulus that is contingent upon a response, and that results in a decrease in behaviour [going to jail- not again]

Question 7

difference between classical and operant conditioning?

Answer 7

classical: response is not required for reward
operant: response is required for learning to take place

Question 8

positive reinforcement

Answer 8

the strengthening of behaviour after potential reinforcers such as [praise, money, or nourishment that follows behaviour] (laugh at parents joke… they will tell more jokes)

Question 9

negative reinforcment

Answer 9

involves the strengthening of a behaviour because it removes or diminishes a stimulus (bring your umbrella to school.. no more rain… removing rain [stimulus].. bring umbrella more)

Question 10

sub category for negative reinforcement (1) avoidance learning

Answer 10

a specific type of negative reinforcement that removes the possibilities that a stimulus will occur (leaving school early… avoid traffic)

Question 11

sub category for negative reinforcement (1) escape learning

Answer 11

if a response removes a stimulus that is already present (covering ears w/ loud music… cannot avoid music… help escape it)

Question 12

positive punishments

Answer 12

process in which behaviour decreases in frequency because it was followed by a particular, usually unpleasant, stimulus [spraying cat with water gun when jumping on counter… positive adding (spray)]

Question 13

negative punishment

Answer 13

occurs when a behaviour decreases because it removes or diminishes a particular stimulus [grounding child… taking away phone… child wont do it again]

Question 14

shaping

Answer 14

reinforcing successive approximations of a specific operant response (process) [teaching the rat if u pull lever… you get food]

Question 15

chaining

Answer 15

linking together two or more shaped behaviours into a more complex action or sequence of actions

Question 16

applied behaviour analysis (ABA)

Answer 16

involves using close observations, prompting, and reinforcement to teach behaviours [basis for educational method]

Question 17

ABC of behaviour

Answer 17

A= antecendent
B= behaviour
C= consequence

Question 18

reinforcers come in 2 forms

Answer 18

primary & secondary

Question 19

primary reinforcer

Answer 19

consists of reinforcing stimuli that satisfy basic motivational needs- needs that affect individual ability to survive and reproduce (water, shelter, sex)

Question 20

secondary reinforcer

Answer 20

stimuli that acquire their reinforcing affects only after we learn they have value (money, ‘likes’ on social media)

Question 21

discriminative stimulus

Answer 21

a cue or event that indicates that a response, if made will be reinforced [ex: asking to borrow parents car when they are in a good mood- dictate whether you ask or not]

Question 22

discrimination + generalization (operant)

Answer 22

the mechanism appears to be dopamine - releasing neurons- not strengthening synapse

Question 23

schedules of reinforcment

Answer 23

rules that determine when reinforcement is available [typically a given behaviour is rewarded accordingly to some schedule]

Question 24

continuous reinforcment

Answer 24

every response made results in reinforcement [ex: vending machines delivering a snack every time you pay]

Question 25

partial (intermittent) reinforcment

Answer 25

only a certain number of responses are rewarded, or a certain amount of time must pass before reinforcement is available (phoning a friend, may not pick up)

Question 26

fixed-ratio schedule

Answer 26

reinforcement is delivered after a specific number of responses have been completed (rat having to push lever 10x for food)

Question 27

variable- ratio schedule

Answer 27

the number of responses required to receive reinforcement varies according to a average [slot machine- game of chance]

Question 28

fixed-interval schedule

Answer 28

reinforces the first response occurring after a set amount of time passes [psyc prof giving exam every 4 weeks… study, break, study, break] (good grades= motivation)

Question 29

variable- interval schedule

Answer 29

the first response is reinforced following a variable amount of time - [meteor showers- rewarded for looking up at times]

Question 30

partial reinforcment

Answer 30

phenomenon in which organisms that have been conditioned under partial reinforcement resist extinction longer than those conditioned under continuous reinforcement [humans used to not receiving reinforcement for every response… cheesy pick up lines]