Ch. 6

Question 1

2 kinds of stimulus change

Answer 1

1) stimulus presentation
-something new added to enviro.

-if stimulus presentation increases behavior above its baseline level, then it functions as a positive reinforcer (SR+)

2) stimulus removal/reduction/prevention
-neg. reinforcer

-removal/reduction: escape (SRE-), increases behavior above baseline

-prevention: avoidance (SRA-)

Question 2

negative reinforcement - avoidance (SRA-)

Answer 2

consequent prevention of stimulus change, the effect of which is to increase operant behavior above its no-reinforcer baseline level

Question 3

pos. reinforcer examples

Answer 3

-food, water, electric brain stimulation
-drugs, social reinforcers

Question 4

neg. reinforcer examples

Answer 4

SRE-: medication, addictive drugs
-SRA-: vaccinations

Question 5

how are pos./neg. reinforcers similar?

Answer 5

1) both consequences
2) both increase behavior above a baseline (no-reinforcement level)

Question 6

how are pos./neg. reinforcers different?

Answer 6

presentation vs. removal/reduction/prevention

-individuals usually prefer pos. > neg. reinforcement

-neg. reinforcers may influence behavior more than pos. reinforcers

Question 7

2 differences of SRE- and SRA-

Answer 7

1) in the case of SRA-, the aversive stimulus isn’t present when the operant behavior occurs
-warning stimulus typically precedes operant response

2) operant response prevents aversive stimulus change from happening

Question 8

2 theories of SRA-

Answer 8

1) two-factor theory
2) one-factor theory

Question 9

two-factor theory

Answer 9

avoidance responses do produce a consequence: fear reduction

-warning stimulus evokes fear and avoidance response has consequence of terminating fear

-fear reduction is consequence that serves as SRA-

Question 10

2 learning processes that 2-factor theory relies on 2 learning processes

Answer 10

1) Pavlovian conditioning
-explains why fear arises
–warning stimulus is CS that evokes fear

2) operant conditioning
-explains why avoidance behavior occurs
–fear reduction is consequence that functions as SRA-

Question 11

one-factor theory

Answer 11

holds that operant conditioning alone can explain SRA-

Question 12

3 reasons for distinguishing between positive and negative reinforcement

Answer 12

1) heuristics
-remember all options
-consequences can be presented (SR+), removed/reduced (SRE-) or prevented (SRA-)

2) loss aversion
-tendency for loss prevention (SRA-) to influence behavior more than presentation of same stimulus (SR+)

3) preference for pos. reinforcement

Question 13

Organizational Behavior Management (OBM)

Answer 13

systematic application of positive reinforcement in workplace settings

-behavior analysts consult with companies to integrate positive reinforcement in the workplace

Question 14

3 objections to reinforcement

Answer 14

1) intrinsic motivation
2) performance-inhibiting properties of reinforcement
3) cheating

Question 15

intrinsic motivation

Answer 15

natural drive to engage in behavior because it fosters a sense of competence

-enhanced by verbal extrinsic reinforcers

Question 16

extrinsic motivation

Answer 16

reinforcers that are not automatically obtained by engaging in behavior; instead, they are artificially arranged

-extrinsic reinforcers do not decrease intrinsic motivation to engage in behavior

-can have a temporary negative impact, but only when they’re tangible and reinforce “high-interest behaviors”

Question 17

2 forms of performance-inhibiting properties of reinforcement

Answer 17

1) reinforcers reduce creativity
2) reinforcers lead to “choking under pressure”

Question 18

how does reinforcement work?

Answer 18

1) investigate neurological events that occur when reinforcers are obtained

2) investigate process at the level of the whole organism and how it interacts w/ the enviro.
-how present behavior is influenced by past events

Question 19

2 contemporary whole-organism theories of reinforcement

Answer 19

1) response strengthening theory
2) information theory

Question 20

response strengthening theory

Answer 20

the more frequently an operant behavior is followed by a reinforcer, the more firmly its established, and the more difficult it’ll be to disrupt

Question 21

information theory

Answer 21

holds that reinforcers give information that allows the individual to predict when or where subsequent reinforcers may be obtained

-controlled by likely future as exemplified in the past