Chapter 7 - Stimulus Control: Discrimination and Generalization

Question 1

Operant behavior is strengthened when

Answer 1

It is followed by a reinforcing consequence; it is weakened when the reinforcing consequence no longer follows the behavior (extinction)

Question 2

The basic principles of behavior are what?

Answer 2

• Reinforcement
• Punishment
• Extinction

Question 3

What do the basic principles of behavior explain?

Answer 3

Why behaviors increase and continue to occur or decrease and stop occurring

Question 4

Antecedents

Answer 4

Stimuli or events that precede an operant response. (stimuli, events or situation that is present immediately before the behavior occurs)

Question 5

Stimulus control

Answer 5

A behavior was more likely to occur when a specific antecedent stimulus was present

Question 6

Stimulus class

Answer 6

An antecedent stimuli that share similar features and have the same functional effect on a particular behavior

Question 7

What does it mean that behaviors are under a stimulus control?

Answer 7

Behaviors do not occur randomly. They occur in the specific situations or circumstances in which they were reinforced in the past

Question 8

Discriminative Stimulus

Answer 8

• The antecedent stimulus that is present when a behavior is reinforced
• More likely to evoke the behavior in the present situation because it was associated with reinforcement of the behavior in the past

Question 9

Stimulus Discrimination Training

Answer 9

The process of reinforcing a behavior only when a specific antecedent stimulus is present

Question 10

What are the two steps involved in stimulus discrimination training

Answer 10

1. When the Sd is present, the behavior is reinforced
2. when any other antecedent stimuli except the Sd are present, the behavior is not reinforced. During discrimination training, any antecedent stimulus that is present when the behavior is not reinforced is S-delta

Question 11

For an Sd to evoke a behavior, what must be present?

Answer 11

An EO (establishing operations)

Question 12

Three-Term Contingency

Answer 12

• The consequence (reinforcer or punisher) is contingent on the occurrence of the behavior only in the presence of the specific antecedent stimulus called the Sd
• Involves a relationship among an antecedent stimulus, a behavior, and the consequence of the behavior

Question 13

Generalization

Answer 13

Takes place when a behavior occurs in the presence of stimuli that are similar in some ways to the Sd that was present during stimulus discrimination training

Question 14

Generalization Gradient

Answer 14

As a stimuli is less and less similar to the Sd, the behavior is less and less likely to occur in the presence of these stimuli

Question 15

Stimulus Generalization

Answer 15

Occurred when a response occurs in different circumstances - in a different context, at a different time, or with different people from those in which it was originally learned
- Behavior occurs in the presence of a stimuli that are similar in some way to the original Sd

Question 16

What is the processes responsible for the occurrence or non-occurrence of a behavior in specific antecedent situations

Answer 16

Reinforcement, extinction, and punishment

Question 17

Consequences

Answer 17

• Alter future probability of behavior

- behavior is more likely or less likely to occur

Question 18

4 principles of behavior

Answer 18

• Reinforcement
• Punishment
• Extinction
• Stimulus Control

Question 19

Concept Formation

Answer 19

1. Reinforce correct response to relevant feature
2. Apply extinction for response to irrelevant feature
3. Vary irrelevant features
4. Use many examples