Chapter 6 - Operant Conditioning Flashcards
Operant behavior
voluntary and goal-orientated behaviors that are emitted by the organism
Thorndike’s law of effect
favorable behaviors are “stamped in” or strengthened while other unfavorable behaviors are “stamped out” or weakened
Skinner selection of consequences
Skinner created the Skinner box which he came up with the idea of operant behavior
Operant consequences
Refers to specific consequence that follows a behavior
Reinforcer
Consequence that increases of behavior
Punisher
A consequence that weakens the possibility of the behavior
Extinction
With drawl of reinforcement which weakens of behavior
Three term contingency
Antecedent and behavior and consequences
Antecedent
A discriminative stimulus (environment)
Behavior
Elicited action from an organism
Consequence
Punisher or reinforcer which processes the possibility of a behavior
Discriminative stimulus
Stimulus which sets the occasion for behavior
Discriminative stimulus for reinforcement (joke example)
Presentation of the stimulus for example a laugh every time a joke is told therefore a joke is more likely to be told
Discriminative stimulus for punishment (cat example)
Presentation of a stimulus that decreases the behavior for example a cat sees a water bottle and quickly learns that it will get sprayed every time it meows
Discriminative stimulus for extinction
Stimulus that signals absence of a reinforcement
Four types of contingencies
1 positive reinforcement 2 negative reinforcement 3 positive punishment 4 negative punishment
Positive reinforcement
Presentation of the stimulus should we consider pleasant to increase the future response
Positive reinforcement girlfriend example
Complimenting girlfriend results in a kiss every single time. The positive reinforcement is a kiss it’s a presentation of a consequence
Negative reinforcement
Removal of the stimulus which is considered unpleasant or aversive to increase the future response
Negative reinforcement heater example
Every time its cold you turn on the heater. Turning on the heater removes the cold which increases your behavior for turning on the heater
Positive punishment
The presentation of the stimulus usuallyunpleasant or aversive to decrease likelihood of behavior
Positive punishment spanking example
Every time a child misbehaves they receive a spanking. Presentation of the spanking decreases the likelihood for the child to misbehave
Negative punishment
The removal of the stimulus which is usually pleasant and rewarding to decrease a behavior likelihood
Negative punishment curfew example
If you stay out past your curfew your car privileges are taken away. Therefore the removal of the car privileges decreases your likelihood to stay past curfew
Immediate versus delayed reinforcement
The more immediate the reinforcer the stronger it’s effect on the behavior
Child playing immediate versus delayed reinforcement example
If you would like to reinforce how to play quietly while they are doing so you give them a treat
Primary reinforcer
Also known as an unconditioned reinforcer is an event that is innately reinforced
Primary reinforcer examples
Food, water, temperature and sexual contact
Secondary reinforcer
Known as a condition reinforcer an event that is reinforcing because it is associated with some other reinforcer
Secondary reinforcer examples
Good grades, nice clothes and a nice car
A type of secondary reinforcer
A generalized reinforcer or a generalized secondary reinforcer. example is money because it is associated with an almost unlimited array of other reinforcers like food clothing entertainment
Intrinsic reinforcement
A reinforcement provided by the mere acting of the behavior
Intrinsic reinforcement example
Driving because you like the feeling of it
Extrinsic reinforcements
Reinforcement provided by some consequence that is external to the behavior
Extrinsic reinforcement example
I work because I need the money
Shaping
Gradual creation of a new operant behavior the reinforcement of successive approximations to that behavior
Shaping dog example
Teaching a dog how to catch a frisbee. first you start with having the dog take away the frisbee from your hand and giving it back. Second the dog now has to jump for the frisbee. Thirdly you now throw the frisbee medium size for it to catch it and continue until further distance
Operant conditioning
Type of learning in which future possibility of the behavior is affected by its consequences
