Chapter 6 Flashcards
The law of effect
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”.
Operant conditioning
A type of learning in which the future probability (strength) of a behavior is affected by its consequences. (Skinneer)
Discriminative stimulus
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.
Three-term contingency
the relationship between a discriminative stimulus, an operant behavior, and a consequence (reinforcer or punisher).
Negative reinforcement
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.
Positive punishment
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
Positive reinforcement
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
Negative punishment
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.
Extrinsic reinforcement
the reinforcement provided by a consequence that is external to the behavior, that is, an extrinsic reinforcer.
Intrinsic reinforcement
reinforcement provided by the mere act of performing the behavior; the behavior itself is the reinforcer.
avoidance behavior
behavior that occurs before the aversive stimulus is presented and thereby prevents its deliver
contrived reinforcers
reinforcers that have been deliberately arranged to modify a behavior; they are not a typical consequence of the behavior in that setting, also called artificial reinforcers
Discriminative stimulus for extinction (S triangle)
a stimulus that signals the absence of reinforcement
discriminative stimulus for punishment (SDP)
a stimulus that signals that a response will be punished
escape behavior
a behavior that results in the termination of an aversive stimulus
extinction
the weakening of a behavior thought the nonreinforcement of a previously reinforced behavior
generalized reinforcer
a type of secondary reinforcer that has been associated with several other reinforcers. also called a generalized secondary reinforcer
natural reinforcers
reinforcers that are naturally provided for a certain behavior; they are a typical consequence of the behavior within that steering
operant behavior
a class of emitted responses that result in certain consequences; these consequences, in turn, affect the future probability (strength) of those responses
primary reinforcer
an event that is innately reinforcing, also called an unconditioned reinforcer
punisher
an event that (1) follows a behavior (2) decreases the future probability of that behavior
reinforcer
an event that (1) follows a behavior (2) increases the future probability of that behavior
secondary reinforcer
an event that is reinforcing because it has been associated with some other reinforcer also called; conditioned reinforcer
shaping
the gradual creation of new behavior through reinforcement of successive approximations to that behavior
