Behavior/Learning Flashcards
Positive reinforcement
Stimulus applied following a behavior, so the behavior is strengthened as a result
*behavior is increased
Negative reinforcement
Removal of aversive stimulus following a behavior, this leads to increase of the behavior
*behavior increased by avoidance or escape
Positive punishment
Application of an aversive stimulus contingent upon performance of the behavior
*behavior is decreased
Negative punishment
Removal of a pleasant or desirable stimulus contingent upon the behavior
Two Factor Theory
Both classical and operant conditioning maintain phobias
Primary reinforcers
Naturally reinforcing
*e.g. - food, water, sex, some drugs, nurturance
Primary punisher
Naturally punishing
*e.g. - shock, pain, nausea
Secondary reinforcers
Acquire their reinforcing through learning
*e.g. - applause; an A grade, Olympic gold medal, money
Secondary punishers
Acquired through learning
*e.g. - ridicule, banishment from a group, an F grade
Continuous reinforcement
Every instance of the behavior is reinforced
Result: quicker learning but behavior extinguishes more quickly
Intermittent reinforcement
Not every instance of behavior is reinforced
Result: behavior is not learned as quickly but is more resistant to extinction
*if delivered on a variable ratio schedule is most resistant to extinction (e.g. - slot machine that pays off on average every 10X)
Shaping a behavior
Creating new behavior by reinforcing successive approximations of the desired behavior
*e.g. - a child learning to write is praised when she makes a letter, even though it is not formed perfectly
Superstitious behavior
random, non-contingent reinforcement that may lead humans to infer causality
Watson
Emotions can be classically conditioned
*white rat + loud noise = fear
Classical conditioning
Learning in which a natural response is elicited by a condition stimulus (CS), that previously was presented in conjunction with an unconditioned stimulus (CS)
*usually deals w/ involuntary responses
Operant conditioning
Learning in which a particular action is elicited bc it produces a punishment or reward
*usually deals w/ voluntary responses
Male Erectile Disorder
ROS: through classical conditioning, stimuli in a sexual sitch have become assoc w/ anxiety
CS: stimuli in sexual sitch
CR: performance anxiety
Tx: sensate focus
Sensate Focus Exercises
Similar to SD but involving mutual pleasuring exercises rather than muscle relaxation
Aversion Therapy
An unwanted behavior (setting fires) is paired with a painful or aversive stimulus (painful electric shock). An association is created btwn the unwanted behavior and the aversive stimulus and the fire-setting ceases
Pedophilia tx w/ Aversion Therapy
CS is children, previously assoc w/ sexual arousal is paired w/ a US that naturally elicits an unpleasant response, gives the pt greater control over their behavior
*group therapy w/ other perpetrators is good approach
Exposure
Gradual exposure to fearful stimulus (no training in relaxation)
Flooding
Abrupt, prolonged, full intensity exposure to the fearful stimulus
*(caution - it can be counterproductive)
Ritual/response Prevention
Exposure, followed by prevention of the ritualistic avoidance behavior
- first-line tx for OCD
- both classical and operant features
PTSD Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy
Exposure to fear provoking CS w/o US, simply extinction, which eventually leads to decay of the CS/CR bond and reduction in anxiety
Prolonged Exposure
Pt gradually exposed to CSS assoc w/ trauma and remains in their presence until anxiety lessens
*used by VA to tx PTSD
Cognitive Processing Therapy
Addresses irrational and upsetting thoughts pt may have related to the trauma
*used by VA to tx PTSD
Biological PTSD tx
Research focusing on altering an ‘elicited fear memory’ prior to its re consolidation back into memory
CBT for Insomnia
First-line tx, aimed @ helping pt identify and replace thoughts and behaviors that impair sleep; individual/group tx also good
Cognitive CBT for Insomnia
Help pt recognize/change beliefs that interfere w/ sleep, induce sleep education, challenging belief that it is terrible and catastrophic if sleep doesnt happen
Behavioral CBT for Insomnia
Help pt develop good sleep hygiene and change lifestyle habits involving smoking, drinking caffeine, etc.
Contingency Management
Using reinforcement to encourage desirable behaviors and punishment or extinction to eliminate undesirable behaviors
Biofeedback
Providing auditory or visual feedback to pt contingent upon modification of physiological correlates of anxiety and pain
Stimulus control
Pt learns to perform a behavior only under certain stimulus conditions
- commonly seen in CBT programs aimed @ weight reduction and insomnia tx
- aim is to bring eating/sleeping behavior under stimulus control
Contingency Contracts
Therapeutic understanding w/ therapist, contingencies pertaining to desirable and undesirable behaviors are made explicit and agreed to by all parties
Token Economies
Operant-based systems often employed in residential tx facilities, prisons, etc.
- secondary reinforcers: used to reinforce desirable behaviors (tokens redeemed by pt for merchandise and privileges)
Rational Emotive Therapy
Emphasizes that it is our thoughts, beliefs and interpretation of events that cause our emotional distress and depression
*emotion caused by the belief/interpretation of the event
Cognitive Therapy
Negative triad = depression caused by our negative interpretation of self, life events, and future
- negative ‘self-schema’: negative filters thru which we view the world distort world and cause depression
Classical Conditioning of Drug-like Effects
Once conditioned the CR mimics aspects of the UR
*(CS: smell/taste of coffee 👉🏽 CR/UR: increased arousal and alertness; US: caffeine)
Conditioned Euphoria
‘Direct effect’ produced by some drugs and is subject to conditioning
*environmental stimuli (CSs) assoc w/ drug use may come to elicit physical changes (CRs) mimicking the UR
Classical Conditioning of Drug-Opposite Effects
The effect of introducing some drugs into the body involves a compensatory response, opposite to the direct effect of the direct drug effects
Law of Effect
Behavior followed by a pleasant consequence is strengthened and tends to be repeated; whereas behavior followed by an unpleasant consequence is weakened and less likely to be repeated
Unconditioned Stimulus (US)
Something that automatically, w/o having to be learned, produces a response
(E.g. - odor of food)
Unconditioned Response (UR)
A natural, reflexive behavior that does not have to be learned
(E.g. - salivation in response to odor of food)
Conditioned Stimulus (CS)
Something that produces a response following learning
E.g. - sound of lunch bell
Conditioned Response (CR)
A behavior that is learned by an association made btwn a conditioned stimulus (CS) and an unconditioned stimulus (US)
Extinction
In operant conditioning is the gradual disappearance of a learned behavior when reinforcement (reward) is withheld
OCD and Avoidance Conditioning
Performance of ritualistic behavior serves as an avoidance behavior and is negatively reinforced, tending to be repeated
Tx: exposure and ritual/response prevention
Post-extinction burst
A rapid burst of the behavior may be observed at the beginning of extinction trials, followed by extinction
Systematic Desensitization
Counterconditioning - present pt w/ fearful CS while in state of relaxation, gradual pairing of anxiety-provoking CS w/ relaxation results in eventual elimination of CR (anxiety)
*based on principle of reciprocal inhibition (classical conditioning)
Time Out
Contingent upon misbehavior, a child is removed from all sources of reinforcement (neg punishment)
