Learning concepts Flashcards
Operant conditioning
A type of learning in which a behavior becomes more likely to recur if followed by a reinforcer or less likely to recur if followed by a punisher
Thorndike’s law of effect
Behaviors followed by favorable consequences become more likely, and behaviors followed by unfavorable consequences become less likely
Reinforcement
Any event that strengthens the behavior it follows
Shaping
An operant conditioning procedure in which reinforcers guide behavior toward closer and closer approximations or the desired behavior
Discriminitave stimulus
Stimulus that triggers a response after association with reinforcer
Positive reinforcement
Increasing behaviors by presenting a pleasurable stimulus that strengthens the response
Negative reinforcement
Increasing behaviors by stopping or reducing an aversive stimulus
Escape
Already present
Avoidance
Before it occurs
Primary reinforcer
An innately reinforceing stimulus, such as one that satisfies a biological need
Conditioned (Secondary) reinforcer
A stimulus that gains its reinforcing power through its association with a primary
Reinforcement schedules
A pattern that defines how often a desired response will be reinforced
Continuous reinforcement schedule
Reinforcing the desired response every time it occurs
Parietal reinforcement schedule
Reinforcing a response only part of the time
Fixed ratio schedule
Reiincorces response only after a specified number of responses
Variable ratio
Reinforces a response after an unpredictable number of responses
Fixed interval
Reinforces a response only after a specified time has elapsed
Variable interval
Reinforces a response at unpredictable time intervals
Punishment
An event that tends to decrease the behavior that it follows
Positive punishment
Adding to a bad stimulus
Negative punishment
Withdrawing a rewarding stimulus
