BF Skinner Flashcards
What is reinforcement?
Shaping a response or increasing the probability of a response.
What is extinction?
Process of eliminating a response or decreasing the probability of a response.
What is operant behaviour?
Voluntary behaviour that operates on the environment.
What is operant conditioning?
Voluntary behaviour associated with a consequence (reinforced or extinguished).
Positive vs. negative
What has been added vs what has been removed.
What is stimulus?
Something in the environment that causes a reaction.
How has operant conditioning been used to modify behaviour?
Creating predictable behaviour or changing the rate of behaviour by reinforcing it through positive or negative reinforcement.
What are some criticisms of Skinner?
Focused on overt behaviour and ignores uniquely human qualities, instinctive drift, later challenged by cognitive movement.
What is positive reinforcement?
When a pleasant stimulus is added.
What is negative reinforcement?
When an unpleasant stimulus is taken away.
What is punishment?
When an unpleasant stimulus is added.
What is omission?
When a pleasant stimulus is taken away.
What is a fixed ratio?
Reinforcer following a fixed number of responses.
What is a variable ratio?
Reinforcer after an unpredictable number of responses.
What is a fixed interval?
Reinforcer after a fixed amount of time.
