Chapter 7- Instrumental Conditioning: Motivation and Mechanisms

Question 1

Associative Structure of Instrumental Conditioning:

Answer 1

• Focuses on individual responses to a stimulus and the outcome of those responses
  
  • Examines instrumental learning in isolation
  • Relies heavily on concept of associations (compatible with Pavlovian conditioning)
  • 3 Components- stimulus context (S), response (R ), outcome (O)

Question 2

S-R Association and Law of Effect:

Answer 2

• Role of reinforcer is to “stamp in” or strengthen S-R association
  
  • Once established, S-R association responsible for occurrence of instrumental behaviour
  • Motivation for instrumental behaviour was activation of S-R association via exposure to stimulus
  • Reinforcer not a participant in association, only role is to strengthen S-R association
  • Developed by Thorndike

Question 3

Response- Allocation Approach:

Answer 3

• Considers instrumental conditioning within broader context of the numerous activities that the organisms are currently doing
  
  • Concerned with how instrumental conditioning procedure limits an organism’s free flow of activities and the consequences of this limitation
  • Considers long term goals and the achievement of these goals

Question 4

S-O Association:

Answer 4

• Participant will always experience distinctive stimuli followed by the reinforcer or outcome (O)
  
  • Association between stimuli and outcome will eventually be established