Ch. 16 Behavioral Analysis

Question 1

behavioral analysis

Answer 1

(1) emerged from laboratory studies of animals y humans
(2) minimized speculation
(3) focus: observable behavior
(4) avoided all hypothetical constructs
(5) best described as radical behaviorism (extreme, no emotions/thoughts considered)

Question 2

assumptions about behavior

Answer 2

(1) lawfully determined

(2) product of environmental stimuli

Question 3

B.F. Skinner

Answer 3

1944 - trained pigeons to guide bombs into enemy ships (used in WWII)

psychologist turned author

**pigeon pecking @ lever experiment

Question 4

E.L. Thorndike

Answer 4

law of effect (satisfiers vs. annoyers)

- influenced Skinner

Question 5

John B. Watson

Answer 5

(founder of behaviorism) behavior can be studied objectively

• consciousness y introspection must play no role in scientific study of behavior
• goal of psychology = prediction + control of behavior
• best reached through study of stimulus-response connections
• influenced Skinner

Question 6

behaviorism

Answer 6

a school of psychology that limits its subject matter to observable behavior

• scientific behaviorism allows for interpretation of behavior, not an explanation of its causes
• can be generalized
• philosophy of science
• founder: Watson
• most famous: Skinner

Question 7

characteristics of science

Answer 7

(1) cumulative, should add up
(2) an attitude that values empirical observation
(3) science = a search for order y lawful relationships

Question 8

classical conditioning

Answer 8

a response is drawn out of the organism by a specific, identifiable stimulus

• behavior elicited from organism
• a neutral (CS) stimulus is paired w/ US a certain # of times until it is capable of bringing about a previously UR

Question 9

operant conditioning

Answer 9

organism first does something, reinforced by environment

- reinforcement increases probability that behavior will occur again

Question 10

shaping

Answer 10

procedure in which experimenter/environment rewards gross approximations of the behavior, then closer approximations, y finally the desired behavior itself
- via reinforcement of successive approximations, experimental shapes that final set of complex bheaviors

Question 11

conditions present

Answer 11

(operant conditioning)
antecedent
behavior
consequence (not always negative)

ABC

Question 12

stimulus generalizaiton

Answer 12

responding to a similar stimulus but distinct from CS

Question 13

reinforcement

Answer 13

strengthens behavior by rewarding person

- absence of (+) reinforcer

Question 14

positive reinforcement

Answer 14

a stimulus increases probability of a given behavior to occur again

(ie) hitting a lever dispenses food
(ie) child stops nagging when parent gives into child’s request

Question 15

negative reinforcement

Answer 15

removal of an aversive stimulus from situation that increase the probability of given behavior to occur again
- not punishment

(ie) electric impulse only goes away if hit lever
(ie) parents gives into child’s request to stop the annoying nagging

Question 16

punishment

Answer 16

presentation of aversive stimulus

• following behaviors = less predictable
• can condition (-) feeling
• typically decrease behavior by suppressing behavior

(ie) spanking
(ie) water sprayed on dog whenever naughty

Question 17

primary reinforcer

Answer 17

stimulus that is innately satisfying

(ie) food, water

Question 18

conditioned reinforcer

Answer 18

environmental stimulus that is not innately satisfying but becomes satisfying b/s they are associated w/ such unlearned or primary reinforcers

(ie) money

Question 19

generalized reinforcer

Answer 19

stimulus associated w/ more than 1 primary reinforce

(ie) money
(ie) attention
(ie) affection
(ie) approval

Question 20

schedules of reinforcement

Answer 20

ratio

interval

Question 21

ratio

Answer 21

number of responses

(ie) fixed-ratio
(ie) variable-ratio

Question 22

interval

Answer 22

time interval

(ie) fixed-interval
(ie) variable-intervale

Question 23

types of intervals

Answer 23

fixed-ratio
variable-ratio
fixed-interval
variable-interval

Question 24

fixed-ratio

Answer 24

example:

paying a brick layer for every 10 bricks he lays

Question 25

variable-ratio

Answer 25

example: slot machines **gives the highest rate of responses

Question 26

fixed-interval

Answer 26

example: salary payment schedule

Question 27

variable-interval

Answer 27

example: checking your email at random times throughout the day instead of checking every time a single message is delivered

Question 28

extinction

Answer 28

tendency of previously acquired response to become progressively weakened upon non-reinforcement

Question 29

operant extinction

Answer 29

when an experimenter systematically withholds reinforcement

Question 30

human personality shaped by:

Answer 30

(1) individual contingencies of reinforcement (2) natural selection (3) cultural evolution

Question 31

natural selection

Answer 31

behavior that is beneficial to species will be repeated

Question 32

cultural evolution

Answer 32

historically cooperative societies survive

Question 33

inner-states

Answer 33

self-awareness drives emotions purpose + intention (exist but do not cause behavior)

Question 34

complex behavior

Answer 34

higher mental processes - reinforcement of covert responses (ie) problem-solving (ie) creativity (ie) unconscious behavior (ie) dreams (ie) social behavior

Question 35

unconscious behavior

Answer 35

behavior we don't think about

Question 36

dreams

Answer 36

(ie) wish-fulfillment

Question 37

social behavior

Answer 37

one member of a group may be reinforcing for another individual - may not have means to leave group - reinforcement or reward may be intermittent

Question 38

human behavior controlled by:

Answer 38

social-control | self-control

Question 39

social-control

Answer 39

how society controls: operant conditioning describing contingencies [(ie.) threats, ads] [(ie.) if this, then that] deprivation + satiation [(ie) food, water] physical restraint [(ie) prison] - doesn't limit personal freedom

Question 40

self-control

Answer 40

manipulating variables w/in one's own environment

Question 41

counteracting strategies

Answer 41

(unhealthy personality) escape revolt passive resistance

Question 42

inappropriate behavior

Answer 42

learned behavior shaped by negative reinforcement (ie) excessively vigorous behavior (ie) excessively restrained behavior (ie) blocking out reality (ie) self-deluding responses (ie) self-punishment

Question 43

behavioral psychotherapy

Answer 43

(1) psychotherapy viewed as one of the major obstacles to a scientific study of human behavior (2) therapist molds desirable behavior by reinforcing slightly improved change in behavior (3) behavior therapists play active role in treatment process, using behavior modification technology y pointing out positive consequences of some behavior and aversive effects of others