Chapter 9: Escape, Avoidance, and Punishment Flashcards
Why do some scientists think escape behavior is easier to understand than avoidance behavior?
It is easy to observe an organism abandon an aversive stimulus for a non-aversive stimulus and environment. With avoidance behavior, it appears as if the organism is leaving a non-aversive stimulus for another non-aversive stimulus.
Negative reinforcement is associated with which two types of behavior?
1) Escape
2) Avoidance
_________ behavior terminates the aversive stimulates while _________ behavior prevents the aversive stimulus.
Escape
avoidance
Behavior that prevents an aversive stimulus from occurring is called ________ behavior.
avoidance
Shuttle Avoidance Procedure
An animal has to shuttle back and forth in a box to avoid an aversive stimulus.
Behavior that terminates an aversive stimulus is called ________ behavior.
escape
In the shuttle avoidance procedure, a rat first learns to ________ from the shock with the ______ acting as the S^d for the behavior. The rat later learns to ______ the shock, with the _________ acting as the S^d for the behavior.
Shock: Cross barrier > Removal of shock
then
Light: Cross barrier > Avoidance of shock
escape
shock
avoid
light
Who founded the Two-Process Theory of Avoidance?
Mowrer
What is the “Two-Process Theory of Avoidance”?
The theory proposes that there are two processes that shapes the behavior.
What are the two-processes in the theory of avoidance?
1) Classical conditioning, in which a fear response is conditioned to be elicited by a CS, and
2) Operant conditioning, in which moving away from the CS is negatively reinforced by a reduction in fear
What are two problems with the “Two-Process Theory of Avoidance”?
1) Avoidance responses are often extremely persistent
2) After repeated avoidance trials, animals appeared to how no evidence of fear but continued to make the avoidance response anyway.
Why do some experts disagree that “avoidance responses are persistent”?
They believe that extinction will eventually occur and cause the behavior to disappear.
One-Process Theory of Avoidance
The act of avoidance is negatively reinforced simply by the lower rate of aversive stimulation with which is associated.
According to the anxiety conservation hypothesis, avoidance responses usually occur so (quickly/slowly) that exposures to the (CS/US) are too (long/brief) for ________ to take place.
quickly
CS
brief
extinction
According to Mineka, a limitation of applying experimental models of avoidance to phobias is that experimental avoidance conditions (more/less) readily than does phobic avoidance.
less
Experimental avoidance often requires (one/a few) conditioning trial(s), while phobic avoidance usually requires (one/a few) conditioning trial(s); additionally, (experimental/phobic) avoidance is less than 100% certain.
a few
one
experimental
A critical aspect of Stampfl’s experimental analogue of phobic conditioning is that the avoidance response can occur (early/late) in the sequence of events leading up to the feared CS, thereby (maximizing/minimizing) the amount of effort involved in making the response.
early
minimizing
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
A disorder characterized by persistent thoughts, impulses or images and repetitive, stereotyped actions that are carried out in response out the obsessions.
Avoidance responses from phobic conditioning results in (little/considerable) exposure to the feared CS, thereby greatly (increasing/reducing) the likelihood that the fear response will __________.
little
reducing
extinguish
_________ are associated with an increase in anxiety where as ___________ are associated with a decrease in anxiety.
Obsessions
compulsions
In the two-process theory, the anxiety is __________ conditioned and the repairing of the anxiety is ________ conditioned.
classically
operant
What is the difference between OCD and a phobia?
Individuals with OCD will do something to reduce the anxiety and individuals with phobias will not do something to reduce anxiety (avoid).
Exposure-and-Response Prevention (ERP)
A method of treating OCD that involves prolonged exposure to the anxiety-arousing event while not engaging in the compulsive behavior patter that reduces the anxiety.
ERP combines the _________ exposure form flooding and the ________ exposure of systematic desensitization.
prolonged
graduated
How are ERPs typically carried out?
The first exposure with a therapist is generally 90 minutes or more. Clients and patients are then asked to not participate in anxiety-reducing activities and to try exposure therapy at home. Once the obsessive-compulsive pattern is eliminated, normal patterns of behavior can continue.
Selective sensitization can lead to ________ or OCD.
phobias
From the perspective of the two-process theory, the decrease in anxiety likely functions as ________ ________ for the compulsive behavior.
negative reinforcement
People with OCD are usually (able/unable) to recall a particular conditioning event that was the cause of the obsessional anxiety response. The disorder often arises, however, during times of _______. This suggests that a process of ________ may exacerbate normal concerns about cleanliness and safety.
unable
stress
sensitization
People with OCD fail to realize that intrusive thoughts are (common/uncommon) and that such thoughts are (controllable/uncontrollable). They also (take/fail to take) responsibility for highly (probable/improbable) events.
uncommon
uncontrollable
take
improbable
Approach-avoidance conflict
Events that are in some ways rewarding and in some ways punishing.
If you are far from the goal, you are more drawn to the appetitive stimulus. As you move closer to the goal, you are more drawn to the aversive stimulus.
Escape and avoidance behavior is strengthened through the (presentation/removal) of an aversive behavior.
removal
Punishment behavior is (strengthened/weakened) via the application of an aversive stimulus or removal of an appetitive stimulus.
weakened
Negative punishment usually results in the (gain/loss) of positive reinforcers.
loss
What are the two types of negative punishment?
1) Time Out
2) Response Cost
What does a time out consist of?
A time out is a loss of access to positive reinforcers for a brief period of time following the occurrence of a problem behavior.
What are two cons of a time out?
1) The time out can be too long
2) The setting of the time out might be reinforcing
What is a response cost?
A response cost is the removal of a specific reinforcer following the occurrence of a problem behavior.
What is a pro and a con of response cost?
Pro: Can be easily adjusted for unique needs
Con: You must identify a reinforcer that will impact the behavior.
What is the difference between negative punishment and extinction?
In negative punishment, performing the behavior leads to the removal of something you would otherwise possess. In extinction, performing the behavior no longer leads to something.
What is intrinsic punishment?
The activity (or behavior) itself is punishing.
IE working out to the point of exhaustion
What is extrinsic punishment?
The activity (or behavior) is followed by a separate event that serves to punish the activity/behavior.
IE smoking a cigarette and being ridiculed
Primary (or Unconditioned) Punisher
An event that is innately punishing.
IE electric shock, loud noise, intense heat/cold
Secondary (or Unconditioned) Punisher
An event we learn to be punishing because it has been associated with some other punisher in the past.
Generalized (or Generalized Secondary) Punisher
An event that has become punishing because it has in the past been associated with many other punishers.
Punishment, especially (positive/negative) punishment, can often elicit a strong _________ reaction. This reaction might include _________ that, if not directed toward the punisher, might be directed toward a substitute target.
positive
emotional
aggression
Punishment of an inappropriate behavior (will/will not) directly strengthen the occurrence of an appropriate behavior. It might even result in a __________ suppression of behavior.
will not
generalized
The use of punishment could, through the process of ________, teach the recipient that punishment is an acceptable means for modifying a person’s behavior. Yelling at your dog for chewing your slippers might teach the dog to avoid _______ rather than the slippers. Yelling at your dog for chewing your slippers might also teach your dog not to chew the slippers only when __________________.
modeling
you
you aren’t present
If punishment has an ________ effect in getting someone to stop annoying us, this result can then act as a strong _________ _______________ for using punishment in the future.
immediate
negative reinforcer
What are 3 beneficial side effects of punishment?
1) Increased social behavior
2) Improvements in mood
3) Increased awareness to the environment
With verbally proficient humans, punishment tends to be more effective when it is accompanied by an _________.
explanation
In general, when implementing a punishment procedure, one should begin with a punisher or sufficient _________ to suppress the behavior.
intensity
Unlike reinforcement, punishment tends to have a stronger impact on behavior if delivered (consistently/intermittently).
intermittently
In general, when attempting to punish a maladaptive behavior one should also attempt to ______ more adaptive behavior.
reinforce
If punishment is to be used, it should be _________, since ________ punishment tends to be relatively ineffective.
immediate
delayed
In general (positive/negative) punishment is preferred insofar as it is likely to have (more/fewer) side effects.
negative
fewer
Conditioned Suppression Theory
Punishment does not weaken a behavior but instead produces an emotional response that interferes with the occurrence of the behavior.
According to the conditioned suppression theory, punishment is only _________ suppressed.
temporairly
Mild punishment results in (long/short) effective compliance time where as harsher punishments results in (longer/shorter) effective compliance times.
short
longer
Avoidance Theory of Punishment
Punishment actually involves a type of avoidance conditioning in which the avoidance response consists of any behavior other than the behavior being punished.
Avoidance theory of punishment (does/does not) weaken a behavior. Instead, it replaces the ______ behavior with an avoidance response.
does not
punished
Premack Approach to Punishment
A low-probability behavior can be used to punish a high-probability behavior.
According to the conditioned suppression theory of punishment, the application of punishment does not directly ________ a behavior; instead, it produces an _________ reaction that tends to interfere with ongoing behavior.
weaken
emotional
Skinner’s theory of punishment founded that punishment tends to produce a (temporary/permanent) effect.
temporary
According to the _______ theory of punishment, a rat stops lever pressing when lever pressing is followed by shock because the occurrence of any behavior other than lever pressing is _________ __________ by the nonoccurrence of shock.
avoidance
negatively reinforced
According to the punishment version of the Premack principle, the occurrence of a _________-_________ behavior can be used to punish the occurrence of a ______-______ behavior. This means that if Sally rarely washes dishes and often bites her nails, then the behavior of ______ ______ can be used to punish the occurrence of ______ ________.
low-probability
high-probability
washing dishes
nail biting
Learned Helplessness
A decrement in learning ability that results from repeated exposure to uncontrollable aversive events.
The original experiments on learned ____________ revealed that dogs that had first been exposed to inescapable shock had (no difficulty/difficulty) learning an escape response when later exposed to (escapable/inescapable) shock.
helplessness
difficulty
escapable
It seemed as though these dogs had learned that there (is/is not) a contingency between their behavior and the offset of shock.
is not
The effect of learned helplessness can be overcome by (forcing/enticing) the dogs to make an escape response. As well, dogs that have had previous exposure to escapable shock are (more/less) susceptible to becoming helpless when later exposed to inescapable shock.
enticing
less
Learned helplessness may account for various difficulties in humans, including the clinical disorder known as _______.
depression
Masserman’s Experimental Neurosis
Organisms that experienced unpredictable aversive stimulation often develop patterns of neurotic behavior.
How does learned helplessness differ from Masserman’s Experimental Neurosis?
Learned helplessness involves repeated exposure to aversive events that are predictable but uncontrollable. Whereas Masserman’s neurosis involves infrequent AND unpredictable exposure to aversive events.
Experimental neurosis occurs when animals exposed to ________ events develop neurotic-like symptoms.
unpredictable
With experimental neurosis in mind, normally (quiet/active) cats became restless and agitated, whereas normally (quiet/active) acts became withdrawn and passive.
quiet
active
With experimental neurosis in mind, food paired with unpredictable shock resulted in cats that developed __________ and ___________ responses to the food.
phobic
counterphobic
Evidence suggests that neurotic symptoms are more likely to develop when the traumatic event occurs in an environment that a person generally regards as (safe/dangerous).
safe
Learned helplessness results from repeated exposure to aversive evens that are ____________; experimental neurosis results from exposure to events that are __________.
uncontrollable
unpredictable
