All Past Exams Flashcards
1
Q
What are the goals of behavior analysis?
A
To accurately predict behavior and to discover functional variables that may be used too positively influence behavior
2
Q
Behavior may be defined as an ______ living organism’s activity, public or private which ma be ______ by external or internal stimuli
A
individual; influenced
3
Q
If a goal-directed behavior occurs without a triggering event, most people would say that the behavior is…
A
consciously willed
4
Q
What was the conclusion of the Libet studies?
A
The conscious initiation of a response happens AFTER the behavior has already begun
5
Q
The definition of a _____ is a “thing you see, hear, smell, taste or feel”
A
stimulus
6
Q
In the Chapter 1 lecture, we outlined some problems with the idea the Theory of Will (i.e., that at an uncaused conscious will causes behavior). That portion of the lecture ended by suggesting that if the Theory of Will is true, then you should “leave now and never return.” Why?
A
Because if behavior has no cause, predicting and positively influencing behavior is impossible.
7
Q
What are the assumptions of behavior analysis?
A
Behavior is determined and the scientific method is a valid way to discover those determinants
8
Q
What does it mean to say that behavior is determined?
A
It means that behavior has a cause or multiple causes; there causes are knowable biological and environmental variables
9
Q
When he was 5, my son and I discussed (at his urging) whether or not Santa Claus existed. I asked him to develop a(n) ___________________ prediction. He said, “Santa lives at the north pole and if we go there we will find his workshop.” I replied, “And if we go there and we find no workshop, no elves, no toys, and no Santa Claus, will that mean that Santa Claus does not exist as a human, and only as a mythical spirit of giving?” He said, “Yes, that is what it would mean,”
A
falsifiable
10
Q
What are the problems with taking a heuristic description of a pattern of behavior and then concluding that the behavior is caused by an inner force?
A
- Circular logic - the only evidence for the existence of the inner force is the pattern of behavior
- We cannot turn a heuristic ON and OFF. Therefore we cannot use it in behavior-change therapy
11
Q
For experiments conducted in behavior analysis, the _____ variable is always an objective measure of behavior
A
dependent
12
Q
For experiments conducted in behavior analysis, the _____ variable is always a publicy observable change, controlled by the experimenter, which is anticipated to influence behavior in a specific way
A
independent
13
Q
correlation does not imply _____
A
causation
14
Q
A ______ ______ specifics the behavior of interest with sufficient detail so that observers can easily distinguish instances from non-instances of behavior
A
behavioral definition
15
Q
Behavior analysts don’t like to use _______ - ______ measures of behavior because people often can’t remember their own behavior and people are often motivated to exaggerate how often they engage in socially acceptable behaviors
A
self-report
16
Q
After behavior analysts have specified exactly what counts and what does not count as an instance of the behavior they will give this specification to the consumer of the intervention or to an expert in the field. they will ask these individuals if the definition accurately reflects the behavior of interest. If it does then the definition has ______ validity
A
social
17
Q
Which direct-observation technique is most appropriate to measure the driver’s behavior:
Harvey manages the fork-lift driver on the loading dock at the warehouse. The driver’s quota is 20 trucks loaded per day. Harvey is busy most of the day, but he could make some direct observations of the fork-lift driver at lunch time. Alternatively, Harvey could just count the number of trucks that are fully loaded and sitting in the parking lot at 5 pm.
A
outcome recording
18
Q
After collecting data for a week, Harvey finds that the fork-lift driver is not meeting his quota. He wants to know if the quota is unreasonable; is it even possible for the driver to load 20 trucks a day? To find out, he’s going to quantify how long it takes the driver to load the first truck of the day. Now which direct-observation technique is most appropriate?
A
duration recording
19
Q
Harvey found, over the last 5 days, that the fork-lift driver loaded the first truck in 15 minutes or less. That means the driver could load over 30 trucks a day, well above the 20-truck quota. Harvey wants to find out how often his driver is loading trucks during the rest of the day. He decides to install a hidden camera on the dock. He plans to turn it on several times a day, for 5 minutes each time. When he watches the video, he will break the video up into contiguous 1-minute intervals. For each of these 1-minute intervals Harvey will record if loading-behavior occurred at any point during the interval. Which direct-observation method is Harvey using?
A
partial-interval recording
20
Q
What does IOA stand for?
A
interobserver agreements
21
Q
What is the formal for IOA?
A
(Disagreements x 100) / (Agreements + Disagreements)
22
Q
Here are the results of a direct observation session in which Jerry and Jim measured the frequency of coughs in a patient suspected of having whooping cough. Please calculate their IOA
JERRY: 200 coughs
JIM: 180 coughs
IOA = ________%
A
90
23
Q
Please calculate the IOA for these two sets of observations. One set of observations was made by Otis and the other was made by Gomer. They both indicated whether or not the behavior of interest occurred during the observation interval by recording either a Yes or a No.
Interval Otis Gomer
1 YES NO 2 NO YES 3 NO NO 4 YES NO 5 NO YES 6 YES NO 7 YES YES 8 NO YES 9 NO NO 10 YES NO
IOA = ____________%
A
30
24
Q
In the social and behavioral sciences, there are two broad categories of experimental designs. One of those designs relies on inferential statistics to determine if the independent variable changed behavior. Which design is reliant on the use of inferential statistics?
A
Group experimental designs
25
When evaluating if the independent variable has changed behavior, behavior analysts will often look at graphs of time-series single-subject data and make a judgement about how convincing the change (if any) is. What is this approach to data analysis called?
Visual analysis
26
There are four defining features of a single-subject experimental design. What are they?
1. The focus is on the behavior of individuals, not groups.
2. Each subject experiences the baseline and experimental (intervention) phases.
3. Behavior is measured repeatedly in each phase until confident predictions about behavior may be made.
4. Internal validity is assessed through replication and evaluating the functional role of confounded variables.
27
________ is the gradual reduction in reflex responding following repeated presentations of the eliciting stimulus
habituation
28
_____________________ selected behaviors are those innate reflexes that are elicited by a specific stimulus. For example, in infants, a loss of physical support elicits the Moro reflex (widely spread arms with palms in front and fingers extended).
Phylogenetically
29
Before Pavlovian learning occurs, the unconditioned stimulus (US) will elicit the....
unconditioned response (UR)
30
Pavlovian learning is demonstrated when the neutral stimulus becomes a conditioned stimulus (CS). We know the CS has acquired this behavioral function when it…
evokes the conditioned response (CS)
31
In the “Little Albert” study, after Pavlovian conditioning was complete, Watson approached Albert while wearing a white furry Santa Claus beard. What was Albert’s reaction and what was Watson testing for?
Albert began to cry and moved away from Watson. This was a test for generalization of Albert's fear of novel stimuli that resembled the CS.
32
Mary Cover-Jones published a paper in the 1924 that revolutionized the treatment of phobias. What principle, discovered by Ivan Pavlov, did Cover-Jones use to decrease her client’s fear of furry animals.
Pavlovian extinction
33
During ___________________ _____________________ therapy, the client is gradually exposed to successively stronger approximations of the CS; before each new CS-approximation is presented, steps are taken to reduce/eliminate any fear evoked by the prior CS-approximation.
graduated exposure
34
Imagine that Mary Cover Jones worked with her client, Peter, for one session. By the end of the session, Dr. Cover Jones presents the furry animal and Peter shows no fear. Two days later, Peter returns to the therapist’s office, encounters the rabbit, and experiences a moderately strong fear response. This increase in conditioned responding following the passage of time since the last session is known as…
Spontaneous recovery
35
What is the first thing learned during Pavlovian conditioning?
The CS signals a delay-reduction to the US. The larger the delay-reduction, the faster Pavlovian learning occurs.
36
What is the second thing learned during Pavlovian conditioning?
The CS Signals when the US will occur
37
What is the third thing learned during Pavlovian conditioning?
The CS signals which US is coming
38
In the diagram above, the US->US interval is 30 mins and the CS->US interval is 3 mins. Use the equation in the book to calculate the delay-reduction ratio.
Delay-reduction ratio = _______ / _______ = ______
30/3 = 10
39
Chapter 4 outlined the hypothesis that Pavlovian learning plays a role in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The substance of the hypothesis was...
1.The US (a traumatic event) is a phylogenetically important event.
2. The CS that comes to elicit trauma are highly salient (e.g., a belligerent perpetrator).
3. Because the US (e.g., an explosion) is infrequent, any CS that reliably precedes it will signal a very large delay-reduction to the US.
4. The stimulus signaling the delay-reduction to the US is not redundant with other stimuli signaling the US event.
40
In Session 1, the conditioned response (salivating) underwent extinction. That is, the CS was presented repeatedly without the US and eventually the CS failed to evoke salivating. However, after the passage of time, at the beginning of Session 2, there is a clear increase in conditioned responding when the CS is presented. This effect is known as ________________________ ______________________.
spontaneous recovery
41
This quote was cited at the end of Chapter 4. To whom does it refer?
Dr. _________________________ was proving one thing that no amount of debate could refute - Behaviorism could make money.
Watson; who went into advertising after he resigned from Johns Hopkins University
42
The veterinarian weighed our dog to see how well we were doing in keeping him on a strict diet. The vet used which direct observation technique?
outcome recording
43
An _____ is an observable stimulus that is present before behavior occurs. A _______ is an observable stimulus that happens after behavior occurs
antecedent; consequence
44
Imagine that a rat in an operant conditioning chamber is performing very well. He moves the pole and we give him a food pellet every time. Then we start a new phase. Now we will give him food pellets once, on average, every 15 s, regardless of what he is doing. With this phase change we have switched from _____ to non-______ reinforcement
conditional; conditional
45
______ is the process or procedure whereby a _____ increases operant behavior above its baseline level
reinforcement; reinforcer
46
Who was the first scientist to demonstrate that reinforcers increase the probability of behavior?
E. L. Thorndike
47
The book defines ____________________ as, a generic class of responses influenced by antecedents, with each response in the class producing the same consequence.
Operant Behavior
48
On Jim's old computer, pressing the F3 key saved his file and Jim pressed this often when he wanted to save his work. When Jim got his new computer, the F3 key did nothing when pressed. After a while, Jim stopped pressing the F3 key. This gradual reduction in pressing the F3 key is one of the reliable effects of ___________________________.
extinction
49
Drew is interested in being accepted into the highly competitive computer science program at the university. They want their computer-science professor to notice how attentive and interested they are relative to the many other students in the lecture hall. Drew waits until the instructor is looking at them (response) and immediately nods and gives the professor a thoughtful look (consequence). Each time the professor is looking at them (response), Drew nods and looks interested (consequence). After a few weeks, Drew finds that the professor is looking at them much more often. They try it in another class and finds it works there too. What procedure has Drew used to increase the amount of time the professor looks at Drew?
response consequence contingency
50
___________________________ behavior occurs when the individual behaves as though a response-consequence contingency exists when, in fact, the relation between response and consequence is noncontingent.
superstitious
51
Anderson received his package after placing his order on Amazon. Although Anderson hates that Amazon treats their fulfillment center employees badly, he buys a lot of stuff on Amazon. It’s just so convenient! However, if Anderson's orders were never delivered to his house, he would eventually stop buying things from Amazon.
Yes, this stimulus change is a reinforcer
52
When Kleiner moved to Wales, he found that using an umbrella was useless in the rain because the wind kept inverting his umbrella. Frustrated with this (and how wet he was getting in the rain) Kleiner noticed that the Welsh people wore raincoats and rain pants. On his way home that evening, Kleiner bought some rain gear at a local shop. The next day, Kleiner wore his rain gear outside and avoided getting wet (not to mention avoiding wrestling with his umbrella). Thereafter, Kleiner wears his rain gear every time it is raining (which it is almost every day in Wales).
Yes, this is a reinforcer
53
MacLean cut her finger so she immediately drove to the hospital. At the hospital, she was required to complete some forms, was eventually seen by a physician, and was released with 10 stitches.
No, this stimulus change is not a reinforcer
54
Although positive reinforcers increase the future probability of behavior, negative reinforcers…
increase the future probability of behavior
55
Please indicate if the consequence is a positive reinforcer, negative reinforcer of the escape variety (SRE-), or a negative reinforcer of the avoidance variety (SRA-). The behavior of interest is underlined and the consequence is in bold.
The lawyer lied to the US Congress because, if he told the truth, he would go to jail for a long time. Successful lying prevents the jail sentence from occurring.
Negative reinforcement of the avoidance variety
56
Please indicate if the consequence is a positive reinforcer, negative reinforcer of the escape variety (SRE-), or a negative reinforcer of the avoidance variety (SRA-). The behavior of interest is underlined and the consequence is in bold.
The husband and wife decided after having their 4th child that that was enough. The husband consulted with the doctor about having a vasectomy. As the husband signed the consent form for the operation, he knew this would prevent the couple from having additional children.
negative reinforcer of the avoidance variety
57
Please indicate if the consequence is a positive reinforcer, negative reinforcer of the escape variety (SRE-), or a negative reinforcer of the avoidance variety (SRA-). The behavior of interest is underlined and the consequence is in bold.
Broden’s lips were chapped and they hurt, so he applied some Chap Stick. The pain was almost immediately relieved after he did this.
negative reinforcer of the escape variety
58
Please indicate if the consequence is a positive reinforcer, negative reinforcer of the escape variety (SRE-), or a negative reinforcer of the avoidance variety (SRA-). The behavior of interest is underlined and the consequence is in bold.
Frank was an alcoholic most of his adult life. When he was young, he physically abused his wife and child before she threw him out. Decades later, Frank learns that his son is trying to reach him. He would like to meet his son and tell him how sorry he is but he is worried that his son may want to call him and yell at him for being a worthless human being. Every time his son’s phone number appears on his cell phone, he presses the Decline button. He can’t bear to hear his son tell him how worthless he is, so he prevents this event from occurring by declining the incoming call.
negative reinforcer of the avoidance variety
59
Please indicate if the consequence is a positive reinforcer, negative reinforcer of the escape variety (SRE-), or a negative reinforcer of the avoidance variety (SRA-). The behavior of interest is underlined and the consequence is in bold.
Erik’s phone signals he has received a text. Erik is driving and knows he should not look at the text but he has been expecting an important text letting him know if his brother has been released from the hospital. Erik grabs his phone and looks at the text. The text informs him that his brother is still in the hospital, so Erik drives there and pays him a visit.
Positive reinforcer
60
Comprehensive Knowledge Question: Calculate the inter-observer agreement (IOA) between these two direct observers of behavior:
Juan: 1 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 1
Carla: 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 1 0 1
IOA = ______%
70
61
A(n) _____________________ ____________________ is a consequence that functions as a reinforcer because it is important in preserving the life of the individual or the continuation of the species. Examples include food, water, termination of pain, and infant contact with the mother.
primary reinforcer
62
Behavioral economists discovered that the value of avoiding a loss (SRA-) is greater than the value of acquiring a gain (SR+). Behavioral economists call this…
loss aversion
63
The primary effect of operant extinction is...
a reduction in operant behavior
64
To therapeutically use extinction, you have to know what reinforcer is maintaining the problem behavior. The procedure behavior analysts use to identify this reinforcer is known as a(n)…
functional analysis of behavior
65
Before making direct observations of behavior, it is important to objectively specify what counts, and what does not count, as an instance of the target behavior. This specification is known as a(n)...
behavioral definition
66
According to the Partial Reinforcement Extinction Effect (PREE), a behavior that was reinforced _____________ will decrease rapidly after operant extinction begins.
frequently
67
Implementing extinction is very difficult if it is the only intervention used. Parents, for example, will often give in to their child’s tantrum and, thereby reinforce problem behavior rather than extinguish it. For this reason, one of the most popular, and effective interventions for decreasing problem behavior is differential reinforcement. Differential reinforcement combines two procedures commonly used by behavior analysts. The first is ______ and the second is _____
Reinforcement; extinction
68
Many school teachers arrange a ___________________ contingency when they reinforce raising your hand and extinguish talking without being called upon first.
differential reinforcement
69
At Apple computers, and other tech firms, they use a differential reinforcement of _______________ contingency. Novel ideas are reinforced and old ideas are extinguished. This increases innovation and helps these companies remain on top.
differential reinforcement of alternative behavior
70
The process or procedure by which consequences increase behavior is known as ______. The consequence itself is known as a _____.
reinforcement; reinforcer
71
What single-subject design is used when conducting a functional analysis of behavior?
alternating-treatment
72
A __________________________ reinforcer is a consequence that functions as a reinforcer because it is important in sustaining the life of the individual or the continuation of the species.
primary
73
Conditioned reinforcers do not function as reinforcers until the individual has learned that the consequence signals a delay-reduction to the backup reinforcer. Learning this relation between the consequence and the imminent delivery of the backup reinforcer is ________________ learning.
Pavlovian
74
Unlike nonhuman animals, humans are capable of learning the relation between a conditioned reinforcer and the backup reinforcer in another way. That other method of learning about conditioned reinforcers is…
verbal learning
75
In the Harry Potter books and movies, the professors at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry sometimes awarded students “house points” for desirable behaviors such as telling the truth, helping another student, or demonstrating bravery. At the end of the term, the house with the most house points earned the House Cup (which was a good thing). If these house points increased the students’ prosocial behaviors, they would be classified as…
conditioned reinforcers
76
A conditioned reinforcement intervention known as the ______________________ was pioneered in mental institutions, and was later adapted for use in schools and business settings. The intervention is a set of rules governing the delivery of response-contingent conditioned reinforcers (e.g., points) that may be later exchanged for one or more backup reinforcers.
token economy
77
The warmth provided by a coat on a freezing day can function as a ______________ reinforcer, whereas a gift card that allows you to purchase a coat can only function as a _________________ reinforcer.
primary; conditioned
78
A generalized conditioned reinforcer signals a delay reduction to...
more than one backup reinforcer
79
Presenting a brief, salient conditioned reinforcing stimulus (like that produced by a clicker) immediately after the desired response can help the individual to correctly identify which response produced the reinforcer. This _______________ procedure is particularly effective when the reinforcer is delayed.
marking
80
What are effective principles of shaping?
1. Map out the sequence of successive approximations, ensuring that each one is neither too easy nor too difficult.
2. Objectively define the terminal behavior.
3. Differentially reinforce the current successive approximation and extinguish prior approximations.
4. Be sure the learner has mastered the current approximation before advancing to the next one.
81
A simple automated training technique which incorporates the six principles of effective shaping is called a…
percentile schedule of reinforcement
82
What are effective principles for arranging effective conditioned reinforcers?
1. Use a conditioned reinforcer that signals a large delay-reduction to the backup reinforcer.
2. Use an effective backup reinforcer.
3. Use a salient conditioned reinforcer.
83
Shaping is defined as differential reinforcement of _______________________ ______________________ to a target behavior.
successive approximations
84
Effective shaping can create a sense of _____________. Video game programmers know this, and they use shaping to increase the probability that players experience that desired state in which they feel immersed in a rewarding activity, and in which they lose track of time and self (Nakamura & Chikszentmihalyi, 2014).
flow
85
The book discussed two problems with everyday concepts of motivation. What are they?
1. Explaining behavior with motivation is built on circular logic (the only evidence for the cause is the effect).
2. Because motivation is only vaguely defined, the concept fails to identify functional variables that can be turned ON or OFF to positively influence behavior..
86
Conceptualizing motivation as a mentalistic force is perfectly acceptable if our only goal is to predict behavior (those with low motivation will perform poorly and those with high motivation will perform well). But this everyday concept of motivation is not helpful if we also want to...
positively influence behavior
87
A(n) __________________________ operation is an environmental and/or biological event that (1) temporarily increases the value of a specific reinforcer and (2) increases the probability of behaviors yielding that reinforcer.
establishing (E0)
88
A(n) __________________________ operation is an environmental and/or biological event that (1) temporarily decreases the value of a specific reinforcer and (2) decreases the probability of behaviors yielding that reinforcer.
abolishing (AO)
89
Chance loved BBQ sandwiches and ate them once a week. Then he got a job at a BBQ restaurant and he saw all the coagulated fat in the meat when he pulled a tray of meat out of the refrigerator. He was disgusted by the sight and, for the next couple weeks, he rarely ate BBQ sandwiches again. Seeing the coagulated fat appears to have functions as a(n) ______________________ operation because it temporarily decreased the value of a BBQ sandwich (as a reinforcer) and it decreased the probability that he would buy one and eat one.
abolishing
90
Cammy was sick for a whole week and was unable to work out. After the week of illness passed, she said she was super-motivated to get back to the gym. Indeed, she was the first person at the gym the morning after she felt better. The illness appears to have functioned as a(n) __________________ operation because it temporarily increased the value of a workout (as a reinforcer) and it increased the probability of getting to the gym early.
establishing
91
Why do behavior analysts use reinforcer surveys and stimulus preference assessments?
These are used to identify potentially effective reinforcers for individuals.
92
In a stimulus preference assessment, several different goods are available and the individual is allowed to choose one and use/consume it. The good that is consistently chosen first will be placed at the top of the ______________________ _______________________. This good is the most likely to function as a reinforcer.
preference hierarchy
93
According to the ___________________ principle, access to a high-probability behavior will always function as a reinforcer when made contingent on emitting a low-probability behavior.
premack
94
Carlos skis only for 3 hours a month. He runs for 12 hours a month. According to the principle you identified on the previous question, Carlos will ski more hours per month if we arrange this contingency...
IF Carlos skis for an hour --> THEN he can run for an hour
95
One measure of reinforcer efficacy is choice - if salted caramels are chosen more often than Laffy Taffy, then salted caramels are the more effective of the two reinforcers. But choice does not tell us how much more reinforcing salted caramels are than Laffy Taffy. For this we need to measure the maximum amount of behavior the reinforcer will maintain, a measure known as the ___________________________.
breakpoint
96
There are four reinforcer dimensions that influence how effective the consequence will be in maintaining behavior. What are they?
1. contingency
2. reinforcer size
3. reinforcer quality
4. reinforcer immediacy
97
A habit is defined as ____________________ behavior that is (1) evoked by antecedent stimuli and (2) persists despite the imposition of a(n) _______________________.
operant; abolishing operation (AO)
98
Habits are formed when...
a response has been repeatedly reinforced, hundreds, if not thousands of times in the presence of the same antecedent stimulus.
99
At the prison, inmates could earn tokens which could later be exchanged for TV privileges, a hot shower, outdoor exercise time, etc. These tokens were supposed to reinforce appropriate behaviors such as reading a book or talking to your neighbor without cursing. One day the behavior analyst returned to the prison and found that the well-meaning prison chaplain had given everyone free tokens. He felt that the prisoners would behave appropriately if they were given unconditional love. What dimension of effective reinforcement did the chaplain ignore? We are looking for a one-word answer.
contingency
100
Vivitrol is a once-a-month shot given to opiate-addicted individuals after they have been through a detoxification program. Vivitrol is a molecule that binds to dopamine receptors, which prevents heroin and other opiates from having most (but not all) of their positive-reinforcing effects. The makers of Vivitrol decreased the reinforcing efficacy of heroin by manipulating what dimension of effective reinforcement?
reinforcer size
101
A(n) ____________________ is defined as a contingent consequence that decreases the future probability of behavior.
punisher
102
Punishment is common in nature, in our everyday lives, and is a procedure frequently used by parents, managers, and the police. However, punishment is much less often used by behavior analysts who work in clinical settings. For these clinical behavior analysts, punishment is only used when…
the problem behavior is dangerous to self or others
103
What are the 6 characteristics of effective punishment
1. Deliver punishers immediately
2. Focus on reinforcement first
3. Combine punishment with extinction and/or differential reinforcement.
4. Deliver punishers contingently.
5. Punish the problem behavior every time it occurs
6. Use a punisher in the Goldilocks zone – neither too aversive nor so benign that it does not decrease the problem behavior.
104
As a child, Gregory was often in trouble with his parents. When he engaged in inappropriate behavior, his father would always whip him with a belt after coming home from work (it was the 1960s). Despite these many spankings, Gregory kept engaging in mischievous behaviors. What Gregory’s parents did not know was that while waiting for his father to come home, belt at the ready, Gregory was putting on 3 pairs of underwear and 3 pairs of jeans. Thus, as the belt whipping was occurring, Gregory was in no pain at all (but he did put on a good show of crying). What principle of effective punishment were Gregory’s parents not able to adhere to, because of Gregory’s mischievous behavior?
Use a punisher in the Goldilocks zone – neither too aversive nor so benign that it does not decrease the problem behavior.
105
A ________________ punisher is a contingent consequence that functions as a punisher because, in the evolutionary past of the species, this consequence decreased the chances of survival.
primary
106
A ________________ punisher is a contingent consequence that signals a delay reduction to a backup punisher.
conditioned
107
Scott dated a married woman. He didn’t know that she was married until her husband showed up at Scott’s apartment and punched him squarely in the face. It has been 20 years since this incident occurred and, during that time, Scott never dated another married woman. The punch in the face appears to have functioned as a…
primary punisher
108
Charlie works about 8 overtime hours per week. He says he hates it, but it helps his family make ends meet. On Monday, Charlie lost his temper and yelled at his boss. His boss told him that he was barring him from working any overtime hours for the rest of the week. After that, Charlie was careful to hold his tongue when he was angry with his boss. Barring Charlie from working overtime hours is…
negative punisher
109
Most people today have first-hand experience with the negative punishment technique known as _______________________________. This method of punishment was pioneered in the animal lab and adapted for use with humans by Dr. Montrose Wolf. This effective method of punishment has largely replaced the physical punishments previously used by parents; e.g., smacking, hitting, spanking, and whipping with a switch.
timeout from positive reinforcement
110
__________________ is the gradual reduction in reflex responding following repeated presentations of the eliciting, unconditioned stimulus (US).
habituation
111
Behavioral game-theorists have arranged games like the Public Goods Game (4 players decide whether or not to contribute $1 to a group project, with everyone in the group equally splitting the money earned from the project). When this game is played without punishment the stable pattern of behavior is ____________________. When the game is played with the opportunity to pay to punish the behavior of others, the stable pattern of behavior is _______________________.
selfishness; cooperation
112
Every Sunday night I take the garbage can out to the curb. The consequence of this behavior is that, on Monday morning, the garbage person empties the can, relieving me of several pounds of smelly rubbish. Said another way, taking the garbage can to the curb is operant behavior maintained by the contingent removal of garbage. This describes a(n) _________________ __________________ contingency.
negative reinforcement
113
Who first discovered schedules of reinforcement?
B. F. skinner
114
One schedule of reinforcement tends to produce a post-reinforcer pause, followed by a high-constant rate of responding. In many ways, this pattern of behavior resembles procrastination. After we finish one operant task (and obtain the reinforcer), we tend to not get to work right away on the next task. However, when we start working on that second task, we tend to continue working on it until it is completed. What schedule of reinforcement produces this characteristic “break and run” pattern of responding?
Fixed-ratio schedule
115
Alexis got a new job selling aluminum siding for people’s homes; so far, she has made three sales. To make the sales, she visits the homes of those who have completed an online form requesting someone come to their house to provide a cost estimate. In her first week on the job, she visited 15 houses before making one sale. After that, she visited 5 houses before making another sale. She thought she was getting better at the job, but then it took 10 more house-visits before she made her third sale. What schedule of reinforcement is Alexis working under thus far?
variable ratio 10
116
Austin can never tell when his drug dealer is going to be home. When he needs a fix, he drives past his dealer`s house over and over again – his dealer told him to never park out front and wait. As soon as Austin sees that the dealer’s car is parked out front, Austin goes in and scores what he needs. If the behavior of interest is driving past the dealer’s house, and the reinforcer is seeing that Austin’s car is out front, what schedule of reinforcement is in operation?
variable interval
117
Which schedule of reinforcement a) maintains the highest response rate, b) is preferred over all other schedules, c) is described by humans as “fun”, and d) is programmed into slot machines?
variable ratio
118
The primary effect of operant ____________________ is a gradual reduction in the response, when it no longer produces the reinforcer.
extinction
119
The subway trains in Mexico City are very reliable. They arrive in the station every 4 minutes. Madison enters the station just as a train is pulling out, so she knows it will be a little while before the next train arrives. Madison sits down on a bench and scrolls through her social-media feed. A few minutes later, she looks up to see if she can see a train coming down the tracks. Nothing. Maybe 30 s later, she looks down the tracks again but doesn’t see a train. About 30 s later, she puts her phone away, stands up and continuously looks down the track until she can see the train approaching at a distance. This pattern of behavior is called a fixed-interval…
scallop
120
____________________________ is the combination of extinction (problem behavior) and reinforcement (desired behavior).
differential reinforcement
121
Jim was planning a trip to Washington D.C. to visit the White House. However, in November, his presidential candidate lost the election. Jim was so disappointed he decided to not request a White House tour. When Jim’s candidate lost, this functioned as a(n) _____________ ______________ because it decreased the value of a specific reinforcer (the White House tour) and decreased a behavior that would yield that tour (requesting it).
abolishing operation (AO)
122
The book and lecture discussed two strategies for identifying stimuli that function as reinforcers. Which of those strategies was appropriate for nonverbal humans and nonhuman animals?
stimulus preference assessment
123
positive and negative punishment are the same in that they both ____ behavior _____ the level occurring during baseline
decrease; below
124
Although positive reinforcers increase the future probability of behavior, negative reinforcers…
increase the future probability of behavior.
125
A __________ _________ is a graphical display of responding as it unfolds over time.
cumulative record
126
A characteristic of _____________ schedules of reinforcement is that the faster you work, the faster you obtain the reinforcer.
ratio
127
A functional (IF --> THEN) relation between an operant behavior and its consequence is called a(n) ______________________.
response consequence contingency
