Ch 6 Terms

Question 1

Define Avoidance Behavior

Answer 1

Behavior that occurs before the aversive stimulus is presented and thereby prevents its deliver.

Question 2

What are Contrived Reinforcers?

Answer 2

Reinforcers that have been deliberately arranged to modify a behavior; they are not a typical consequence of the behavior in that setting. AKA: Artificial Reinforcers

Question 3

Define Discriminative Stimulus.

Answer 3

A stimulus in the presence of which responses are reinforced and in the absence of which they are not reinforced; that is, a stimulus that signals the availability of reinforcement.

Question 4

Discriminative Stimulus for Punishment

Answer 4

A stimulus that signals that a response will be punished

Question 5

What is a behavior that results in the termination of an aversive stimulus.

Answer 5

Escape Behavior

Question 6

What is extrinsic reinforcement?

Answer 6

The reinforcement provided by a consequence that is external to the behavior, that is, an extrinsic behavior.

Question 7

Define Generalized reinforcer

Answer 7

A type of secondary reinforcer that has been associated with several other reinforcers.

Question 8

What’s another name for Generalized Reinforcer?

Answer 8

Generalize Secondary Reinforcer

Question 9

What is an intrinsic reinforcement?

Answer 9

Reinforcement provided by the mere act of performing the behavior; the performance of the behavior is inherently reinforcing.

Question 10

Define the Law of Effect

Answer 10

As stated by Thorndike, the proposition that behaviors that lead to a satisfying state of affairs are strengthened or “stamped in,” while behaviors that lead to an unsatisfying or annoying state of affairs are weakened or “stamped out.”

Question 11

Define Natural Reinforcers

Answer 11

Reinforcers that are naturally provided for a certain behavior; that is, they are a typical consequence of the behavior within that setting.

Question 12

Define Negative Punishment

Answer 12

The removal of a stimulus (one that is usually considered pleasant or rewarding) following a response, which then leads to a decrease in the future strength of that response.

Question 13

Define Negative Reinforcement

Answer 13

The removal of a stimulus ( one that is usually considered unpleasant or aversive) following a response, which then leads to an increase in the future strength of that response.

Question 14

Define Operant Behavior

Answer 14

A class of emitted responses that result in certain consequences; these consequences, in turn, affect the future probability or strength of those responses.

Question 15

Define Operant Conditioning

Answer 15

A type of learning in which the future probability of a behavior is affected by its consequences.

Question 16

Define Positive Punishment

Answer 16

The presentation of a stimulus (one that is usually considered unpleasant or aversive) following a response, which then leads to a decrease in the future strength of that response.

Question 17

Define Positive Reinforcement

Answer 17

The presentation of a stimulus (one that is usually considered pleasant or rewarding) following a response, which then leads to an increase in the future strength of that response.

Question 18

Define Primary Reinforcer

Answer 18

an event that is innately reinforcing.

Question 19

What is an event that follows a behavior and decreases the future probability of that behavior?

Answer 19

Punisher

Question 20

What is an event that follows a behavior and increases the future probability of that behavior?

Answer 20

Reinforcer

Question 21

Define Secondary Reinforcer

Answer 21

an event that is reinforcing because it has been associated with some other reinforcer.

Question 22

Define Shaping

Answer 22

The gradual creation of new operant behavior through reinforcement of successive approximations to that behavior

Question 23

What is the relationship between a discriminative stimulus, an operant behavior, and a reinforcer or punisher?

Answer 23

Three-Term Contingency