Chapter 4: Reinforcement

Question 1

Thorndike

Answer 1

• Law of Effect

- law of behaviour

Question 2

Operant behaviour

Answer 2

• Functioning of tending to produce effects
• a behaviour that operates on the environment
• ## is emitted or evoked

Question 3

Operant conditioning

Answer 3

manipulating consequences of behavior

• consequences may increase or decrease a behaviour
• behaviour can itself be a stimulus which leads to further behaviour

Question 4

Reinforcement

Answer 4

the process in which the consequence of a behaviour strengthens the behaviour
- behaviour is likely to occur in the future (frequency), or occurs more quickly (latency)

Question 5

Reinforcer

Answer 5

a stimulus, object, or event that strengthens behaviour; often is an appetitive stimulus (characterized by a natural desire to satisfy bodily needs)
ex. dog treat

Question 6

Positive reinforcement

Answer 6

behaviour is followed by the presentation of a pleasant stimulus to increase behaviour
ex. tell a joke and laugh

Question 7

negative reinforcement

Answer 7

Behaviour is followed by the removal of an aversive stimulus that increases the behaviour
ex. Putting up umbrella while raining

Question 8

Escape reinforcement (negative reinforcement)

Answer 8

causes removal of existing aversive stimulus

ex. feel cold put on sweater

Question 9

avoidance reinforcement (negative reinforcement)

Answer 9

prevents presentation of aversive stimulus

ex. before you go outside, put on a sweater

Question 10

natural reinforcement

Answer 10

occurs spontaneously as part of everyday life

ex. tell a joke, friends laugh

Question 11

Programed reinforcement

Answer 11

planned and systematic; part of behavioral treatment

ex. giving yourself reward as part of a self management program

Question 12

social reinforcement

Answer 12

involves another person to deliver reinforcing consequences

ex. teacher praises student

Question 13

Automatic reinforcement

Answer 13

individual get reinforcing consequences directly form environment
ex. scratching an itch

Question 14

tangible reinforcement

Answer 14

access to a preferred object (consumable reinforcement)

ex. toys

Question 15

activity reinforcement

Answer 15

engaging in preferred behaviour

ex. video game, listening to music

Question 16

Primark principle

Answer 16

preferred behavior can serve as positive reinforcement

Question 17

unconditioned (primary) reinforcer

Answer 17

stimulus or event that has natural reinforcing effects (not due to prior conditioning or learning)
ex. food, water, absence of pain

Question 18

conditioned (secondary) reinforcer

Answer 18

neutral stimulus that has become associated with an unconditioned reinforcer

ex. animal clicker training
ex. token economy

Question 19

Reward value

Answer 19

quantity and quality of the reinforcer, value to the individual

Question 20

Motivating operations

Answer 20

antecedent events that can temporarily alter the effectiveness of reinforcement , and thus affect behaviour; also called setting events

Question 21

Types of setting events

Answer 21

social ex. presence of an attractive person

physiological: ex. having headache
environmental: quiet library for studying

Question 22

establishing operation

Answer 22

establishes/increase the effectiveness of reinforcement

Question 23

abolishing operation

Answer 23

decreases the effectiveness of reinforcement

Question 24

contingency

Answer 24

consequences should consistently follow the behaviour

Question 25

continuous

Answer 25

reinforcement given after each response

Question 26

Intermittent

Answer 26

only some responses are reinforced

- acquisition phase is longer

Question 27

Fixed Ratio (FR)

Answer 27

• reinforcer given after a random number of responses
• high response rate
• FR 10: every 10 bar presses, 1 food pellet
  ex. salesperson gets bonus every 10 sales

Question 28

Variable Ratio (VR)

Answer 28

reinforcer given after a random number of responses (number deviates around the mean)
VR 20: on average, every 20bar-presses, 1 food pellet- high response rates
ex. slot machines

Question 29

Fixed Ratios (FI)

Answer 29

reinforcer given when response occurs after a certain length of time

• FL 5: first response after every 5 seconds, food pellet
• responses increase as reinforcement time nears
  ex. checking mailbox behaviour increases as typical delivery time approaches

Question 30

Variable interval (VI)

Answer 30

reinforcer given when response occurs after a variable length of time (length devisates around a mean)

• VI 30 : first response after an average of 30 seconds since he last reinforcement, 1 food pellet
• slow and steady responding
  ex. paddling out to surf