Chapter 11: Learning Flashcards
What is a reinforcer?
A part of operant conditioning, it is anything that follows a response that increases the likelihood that the response will occur again.
What is shaping?
A part of operant conditioning, it is reinforcement or rewarding successive approximations of the desired response.
What is extinction?
It occurs in operant conditioning when reinforcement is withheld.
What is generalization?
It occurs when a response is made to a reinforcer that is similar to the reinforcer that conditioned the original response.
What is discriminative stimulus?
A stimulus that signals whether a certain response or behaviour is likely to be rewarded, ignored or punished.
What is positive reinforcement?
Refers to any pleasant or desirable consequence that, if applied after a response, increases the probability of that response occurring again.
What is negative reinforcement?
Refers to any behaviour that is likely to occur again because it was followed by the termination of an aversive condition.
What is a primary reinforcer?
Those that fulfill a basic physical need for survival and do not depend on learning. Example would be food, sleep, water, etc.
What is a secondary reinforcer?
Acquired or learned by association with other reinforcers. Example would be money, tokens, grades, etc.
What is continuous reinforcement?
Occurs when each correct response is reinforced.
What is partial reinforcement?
Occurs when correct responses are reinforced randomly or intermittently.
What is the fixed ratio?
The reinforcement given after a fixed number of correct responses.
What is a variable ratio?
When something is given after a varying number of correct responses.
What is a fixed interval?
When something is given after a specific interval of time has passed.
What is a variable interval?
Reinforcement given after varying amount of time.
