Chapter 6: Learning (3)

Question 1

Define primary reinforcers.

Answer 1

Primary reinforcers are events that are inherently reinforcing because they satisfy biological needs.

Question 2

Define secondary reinforcers.

Answer 2

Secondary, or conditioned, reinforcers are events that acquire reinforcing qualities by being associated with primary reinforcers.

Question 3

What is acquistion in operant conditioning?

Answer 3

Acquisition in operant conditioning refers to the initial stage of learning
some new pattern of responding

Question 4

How are operant responses established?

Answer 4

Operant responses are usually established through a gradual process called shaping, the process of successive approximation, behaviors that are closer and closer to a target behavior are progressively rewarded with positive reinforcement.

Question 5

What is extinction in operant conditioning?

Answer 5

In operant conditioning, extinction refers to the gradual weakening and disappearance of a response tendency because the response is no longer followed by a reinforcer.

Question 6

What is a key issue in operant conditioning?

Answer 6

Resistance to extinction occurs when an organism continues to make a response after delivery of the reinforcer has been terminated.

Question 7

What is the discriminative stimulus?

Answer 7

A discriminative stimulus (SD) A discriminative stimulus (SD) is a stimulus that predicts reinforcement.

ex: if a child is learning to ask for a toy, the discriminative stimulus might be the presence of the toy in the room

Question 8

Reactions to a discriminative stimulus are governed by the processes of _________and___________

Answer 8

Reactions to a discriminative stimulus are governed by the processes of stimulus generalization and stimulus discrimination

Question 9

_______is key to the development of the kinds of superstitious behaviours exhibited by elite athletes.

Answer 9

Reinforcement

Question 10

What is a schedule of reinforcement?

Answer 10

A schedule of reinforcement determines which occurrences of a specific response result in the presentation of a reinforcer.

ex: reinforcing a child after every fifth math sheet is completed

Question 11

Define continuous reinforcement.

Answer 11

Continuous reinforcement occurs when every instance of a designated response is reinforced.

Question 12

What is intermittent or partial reinforcement?

Answer 12

Intermittent, or partial, reinforcement occurs when a designated response is reinforced only some of the time.

ex: giving a child what he wants when he throws a tantrums.

This pattern is shown to be more resistant to extinction.

Question 13

Define ratio schedules.

Answer 13

Ratio schedules require the organism to make the designated response a certain number of times to gain each reinforcer.

Question 14

What is a fixed-ratio schedule?

Answer 14

A fixed-ratio (FR) schedule, the reinforcer is given after a fixed number of nonreinforced responses.

Examples: (1) A rat is reinforced for every tenth lever press

Question 15

Define a variable-ratio schedule.

Answer 15

A variable-ratio (VR) schedule, the reinforcer is given after a variable number of nonreinforced responses

ex: A slot machine in a casino pays off once every six tries on the average

Question 16

What are interval schedules?

Answer 16

Interval schedules require a time period to pass between the presentation of reinforcers.

Question 17

Define a fixed-interval schedule.

Answer 17

A fixed interval (FI) schedule, the reinforcer is given for the first response that occurs after a fixed time interval has
elapsed.

ex: A man washing his clothes periodically checks to see whether each load is finished.

Question 18

What is a variable-interval schedule?

Answer 18

A variable-interval (VI) schedule,
the reinforcer is given for the first response after a variable time interval has elapsed

ex: A person repeatedly dials a busy phone number

Question 19

Differentiate positive and negative reinforcement.

Answer 19

Positive reinforcement occurs when a response is strengthened because it is followed by the presentation of a rewarding stimulus.(ex:paychecks)

Negative reinforcement occurs when a response is strengthened because it is followed by the removal of an aversive (unpleasant) stimulus.(ex: You rush home in the winter to get out of the cold)

Question 20

Differentiate between positive punishment and negative punishment.

Answer 20

Positive punishment involved the presentation of an aversive stimulus to weaken a response.

Negative punishment involves the removal of a rewarding stimulus to weaken a response.