Chapter 11

Question 1

Automatic Reinforcment

Answer 1

Reinforcement that occurs independent of the social mediation of others (e.g., scratching an insect bite relieves the itch). Automatic-ity (of reinforcement) refers to the fact that behavior is modified by its consequences irrespective of the person’s awareness; a per-son does not have to recognize or verbalize the relation between her behavior and a reinforcing consequence, or even know that a consequence has occurred, for reinforcement to “work.”

Question 2

Conditioned Reinforcer

Answer 2

A previously neutral stimulus change that functions as a negative reinforcer because of prior pairing with one or more negative reinforcers.

Question 3

Generalized Conditioned Reinforcer

Answer 3

A generic term for a variety of behavioral processes and behavior change outcomes. (See generalization gradient, generalized behavior change, response generalization, response maintenance, setting, situation generalization, and stimulus generalization.)

Question 4

Positive Reinforcer

Answer 4

A stimulus whose presentation or onset functions as reinforcement.

Question 5

Positive Reinforcement

Answer 5

A stimulus whose presentation or onset functions as reinforcement.

Question 6

Premack Principle

Answer 6

Occurs when a behavior is followed immediately by the presentation of a stimulus that increases the future frequency of the behavior in similar conditions.

Question 7

Reinforcer Assessment

Answer 7

Refers to a variety of direct, empirical methods for presenting one or more stimuli contingent on a target response and measuring their effectiveness as reinforcers.

Question 8

Response-Deprivation Hypothesis

Answer 8

A model for predicting whether contingent access to one behavior will function as reinforcement for engaging in another behavior based on whether access to the contingent behavior represents a restriction of the activity compared to the baseline level of engagement.

Question 9

Rule-Governed Behavior

Answer 9

Behavior controlled by a rule (i.e., a verbal statement of an antecedent-behavior-consequence contingency); enables human behavior (e.g., fastening a seatbelt) to come under the indirect control of temporally remote or improbable but potentially significant consequences (e.g., avoiding injury in an auto accident). Often used in contrast to contingency-shaped behaviorism.

Question 10

Socially Mediated Contingencies

Answer 10

A contingency is which an antecedent stimulus and/or the consequence for the behavior is presented by another person.

Question 11

Stimulus Preference Assessment

Answer 11

A variety of procedures used to determine the stimuli that a person prefers, the relative preference values (high versus low) of those stimuli, the conditions under which those preference values remain in effect, and their presumed value as reinforcers.

Question 12

Unconditioned Reinforcer

Answer 12

A stimulus that functions as a negative reinforcer as a result of the evolutionary development of the species (phylogeny); no prior learning is involved (e.g., shock, loud noise, intense light, extreme temperatures, strong pressure against the body).