Exam 3: Operant Conditioning

Question 1

Operant Conditioning

Answer 1

A learning process in which behavior is influenced by its consequences.

Question 2

Reinforcement

Answer 2

A consequence that increases the likelihood of a behavior recurring.

Question 3

Positive Reinforcement

Answer 3

Adding a pleasant stimulus to increase a behavior.

Question 4

Negative Reinforcement

Answer 4

Removing an unpleasant stimulus to increase a behavior.

Question 5

Punishment

Answer 5

A consequence that decreases the likelihood of a behavior recurring.

Question 6

Positive Punishment

Answer 6

Adding an aversive stimulus to decrease a behavior.

Question 7

Negative Punishment

Answer 7

Removing a pleasant stimulus to decrease a behavior.

Question 8

Discriminative Stimulus (SD)

Answer 8

A stimulus that signals the availability of reinforcement.

Question 9

Stimulus Control

Answer 9

When behavior is influenced by the presence or absence of specific stimuli.

Question 10

Shaping

Answer 10

Reinforcing successive approximations toward a desired behavior.

Question 11

Extinction

Answer 11

The process by which a behavior weakens when reinforcement is no longer provided.

Question 12

Extinction Burst

Answer 12

A temporary increase in the frequency or intensity of a behavior when reinforcement is first removed.

Question 13

Spontaneous Recovery

Answer 13

The reappearance of an extinguished behavior after a period of non-exposure to the stimulus.

Question 14

Schedules of Reinforcement

Answer 14

Rules that determine when and how often reinforcement is delivered.

Question 15

Continuous Reinforcement

Answer 15

Reinforcing a behavior every time it occurs.

Question 16

Partial Reinforcement

Answer 16

Reinforcing a behavior only some of the time.

Question 17

Fixed Ratio Schedule

Answer 17

Reinforcement after a set number of responses.

Question 18

Variable Ratio Schedule

Answer 18

Reinforcement after a variable number of responses.

Question 19

Fixed Interval Schedule

Answer 19

Reinforcement after a set amount of time and one correct response.

Question 20

Variable Interval Schedule

Answer 20

Reinforcement after varying amounts of time and one correct response.

Question 21

Premack Principle

Answer 21

Using a more probable behavior to reinforce a less probable one.

Question 22

Response Deprivation Hypothesis

Answer 22

A behavior becomes reinforcing when access is restricted below baseline.

Question 23

Avoidance Behavior

Answer 23

Performing an action to prevent an aversive stimulus.

Question 24

Escape Behavior

Answer 24

Performing an action to stop an ongoing aversive stimulus.

Question 25

Two-Process Theory

Answer 25

Avoidance learning involves both classical and operant conditioning.

Question 26

Stimulus Generalization

Answer 26

Responding similarly to stimuli that resemble the original discriminative stimulus.

Question 27

Stimulus Discrimination

Answer 27

Responding only to the discriminative stimulus, not to similar stimuli.

Question 28

Motivating Operations

Answer 28

Factors that change the effectiveness of a reinforcer or punisher.

Question 29

Primary Reinforcer

Answer 29

A reinforcer that is naturally reinforcing (e.g., food, water).

Question 30

Secondary Reinforcer

Answer 30

A reinforcer that gains value through association with a primary reinforcer (e.g., money).

Question 31

Law of Effect

Answer 31

Thorndike's principle stating that behaviors followed by satisfying consequences are more likely to recur.

Question 32

Connectionism

Answer 32

Thorndike's theory that learning involves the formation of connections between stimuli and responses.

Question 33

Respondent Behaviors

Answer 33

Behaviors that are elicited automatically by a specific stimulus (involuntary).

Question 34

Contingency

Answer 34

A relationship in which one event depends on the occurrence of another (e.g., reinforcement depends on behavior).

Question 35

Contiguity

Answer 35

The closeness in time between a behavior and its consequence.

Question 36

Establishing Operation

Answer 36

A motivating operation that increases the effectiveness of a reinforcer.

Question 37

Abolishing Operation

Answer 37

A motivating operation that decreases the effectiveness of a reinforcer.

Question 38

Intrinsic Reinforcement

Answer 38

Reinforcement that comes from engaging in the behavior itself because it is naturally rewarding.

Question 39

Extrinsic Reinforcement

Answer 39

Reinforcement provided by an external reward or outcome separate from the behavior itself.

Question 40

Natural Reinforcers

Answer 40

Reinforcers that occur naturally as a consequence of the behavior (e.g., relief, satisfaction).

Question 41

Contrived Reinforcers

Answer 41

Reinforcers that are deliberately arranged to modify behavior, not naturally occurring.

Question 42

Fixed Duration (FD) Schedule

Answer 42

Reinforcement is delivered if the behavior occurs continuously for a set period of time.

Question 43

Variable Duration (VD) Schedule

Answer 43

Reinforcement is given if the behavior occurs continuously for a variable amount of time.

Question 44

Fixed Time (FT) Schedule

Answer 44

Reinforcement is delivered after a fixed amount of time, regardless of behavior.

Question 45

Variable Time (VT) Schedule

Answer 45

Reinforcement is delivered after varying amounts of time, regardless of behavior.

Question 46

Progressive Ratio (PR) Schedule

Answer 46

A schedule in which the number of responses required for reinforcement increases systematically.

Question 47

Complex Schedules

Answer 47

Schedules that involve combinations of two or more simple reinforcement schedules.

Question 48

Chained Schedule

Answer 48

A type of complex schedule in which each component must be completed in sequence and is signaled by a unique stimulus.

Question 49

Differential Reinforcement

Answer 49

Reinforcing some responses but not others, to shape specific behaviors.

Question 50

Differential Reinforcement of Alternative Behavior

Answer 50

Reinforcing a desirable alternative to an unwanted behavior.

Question 51

Differential Reinforcement of Other Behavior

Answer 51

Reinforcing the absence of the unwanted behavior during a specific time period.

Question 52

Differential Reinforcement of Low Rates of Responding

Answer 52

Reinforcing behavior only if it occurs at low rates within a certain time frame.

Question 53

Differential Reinforcement of Incompatible Behavior

Answer 53

Reinforcing a behavior that cannot occur at the same time as the unwanted behavior.

Question 54

Differential Reinforcement of High Rates of Responding

Answer 54

Reinforcing high rates of a desired behavior within a given time frame.

Question 55

Hull's Drive Reduction Theory

Answer 55

Theory proposing that reinforcers reduce internal biological drives or states of deprivation.

Question 56

Prompts

Answer 56

A stimulus or cue used to increase the likelihood that a desired behavior will occur.

Question 57

Fading

Answer 57

The gradual removal of prompts to transfer control to natural stimuli.

Question 58

Time-outs

Answer 58

A behavioral intervention in which access to reinforcement is removed for a period of time.

Question 59

Response Cost

Answer 59

A punishment procedure where a reinforcer is taken away following a behavior.

Question 60

Overcorrection

Answer 60

A punishment procedure requiring effortful behavior to correct the effects of misbehavior.

Question 61

Partial Reinforcement Effect

Answer 61

The tendency of behaviors reinforced on partial schedules to be more resistant to extinction.

Question 62

Discrimination Hypothesis

Answer 62

The idea that it is harder to distinguish extinction from partial reinforcement, making behavior more persistent.