Final Exam Flashcards
Concurrent Schedule
Subject chooses to respond to one of two keys, each with a different schedule. ex) variable interval 60 sec and fixed ratio 10 - then measure how the subject distributes attention.
Matching Law
Relative rate of responding on a particular response alternate = the relative rate of reinforcement for that alternative. ex) Vollmer _ Bourret (2000): The matching law predicts that the proportion of shots taken from 3-point range should match the proportional reinforcement rate produced by such shots.
Behavior Therapy
A range of treatments and techniques which are used to change an individual’s maladaptive responses to specific situations.
Choice With Commitment
Can’t alternate back and forth between choices of reinforcement schedules. Pigeons prefer variable ratio over fixed ratio.
Self Control
Preference for a large-delayed reward over a small immediate reward. ex) Drug addiction + ADHD
Stimulus Discrimination
The ability to distinguish between two stimuli. ex) Ordering a dish at one restaurant because you know that other restaurants don’t offer that same menu item
Differential Responding
Responding in different ways or at different rates in the presence of different stimuli.
Stimulus Generalization
Responding in similar ways or at the same rates in the presence of a different stimuli. ex) Dog trained to drool at clicking noise may also drool at similar noises.
Creating Stimulus Generalization Through Therapy
1) Equalize treatment situation and natural environment
2)Conduct treatment in new settings
3)Use exemplars (use many different stimuli)
4)Condition new responses to stimuli that are common to various situations
5) Make training incidental to other activities (If child pays attention to a specific toy, use this to help teach a behavior).
6) Once a response is acquired through training, the behavior can be maintained by naturally available reinforcers.
Factors that influence whether a stimulus controls behavior
1) Sensory capacity + orientation (dogs and sensitive hearing)
2) Ease of conditioning (more intense stimulus will control responding)
3) Type of instrumental response
Positive Punishment
Delivery of an aversive stimulus. ex) spanking for bad behavior
Negative Punishment
Omission or loss of a positive reinforcer. ex) getting a time out
Intrinsic Punishment
A behavior that is inherently punishing on its own. ex) exercising, going to class
Extrinsic Punishment
Punishment that follows a behavior. ex) Drinking and getting hung over later, getting an F on a paper
Problems with Punishment
1) Punishment of inappropriate behavior does not strengthen occurrence of correct behavior
2) The person applying punishment could become a discriminative stimulus meaning unwanted behavior would only be suppressed in the presence of that person
3) Punishment might teach avoidance of the punisher
4) Punishment elicits a strong emotional response which overrides learning
5) Punishment can elicit aggression
6) Teaches that punishment is an acceptable means of conditioning behavior - child abuse
7) Punishment reinforces the person using it because it produces immediate effects
Benefits of Punishment
1) Punishment can sometimes lead to an increase in social behavior
2) Punishment sometimes leads to improvement in mood
3) Punishment can increase attention to environment
Effective Use of Punishment
1) Make it immediate
2) Should follow each occurrence of unwanted behavior initially
3) Should be intense enough to suppress the target behavior
4) Negative punishment is preferable to positive punishment
5) Accompanied with an explanation if possible
6) Combine with positive reinforcement of appropriate behavior
Conditioned Suppression
Punishment does not weaken behavior, but produces an emotional reaction that interferes with the occurrence of the behavior
Avoidance
The avoidance response consists of any behavior other than the behavior being punished, thus punishment does not weaken behavior
Premack Approach
A low probability behavior can be used to punish a high probability behavior. ex) having to run a mile for eating outside of your diet.
Observational Learning
Learning that occurs when an observer watches a model’s behavior and changes their own behavior accordingly
Bandura and Bobo the clown
Children who watched a video of an adult beating up a Bobo doll would make them more likely to do the same
Vicarious emotional conditioning
Learning of emotional responses by seeing emotional responses of others. ex) fear and disgust reactions which are important for survival.
Advertising and Vicarious Emotion
Exaggerated happy faces used in advertisement. Positive emotions are associated with what they are trying to sell.