Learning: Operant

Question 1

operant conditioning

Answer 1

the learning of voluntary behavior through the effects of pleasant and unpleasant consequences to responses

Question 2

law of effect

Answer 2

law stating that if an action is followed by a pleasurable consequence, it will tend to be repeated, and if followed by an unpleasant consequence, it will tend not to be repeated

Question 3

operant

Answer 3

any behavior that is voluntary

Question 4

reinforcement

Answer 4

any event or stimulus that, when following a response, increases the probability that the response will occur again

Question 5

reinforcers

Answer 5

any events or objects that, when following a response, increase the likelihood of that response occurring again

Question 6

primary reinforcer

Answer 6

any reinforcer that is naturally reinforcing by meeting a basic biological need, such as hunger, thirst, or touch

Question 7

secondary reinforcer

Answer 7

any reinforcer that becomes reinforcing after being paired with a primary reinforcer, such as praise, tokens, or gold starts

Question 8

positive reinforcement

Answer 8

the reinforcement of a response by the addition or experience of a pleasurable stimulus

Question 9

negative reinforcement

Answer 9

the reinforcement of a response by the removal, escape from, or avoidance of an unpleasant stimulus

Question 10

partial reinforcement effect

Answer 10

the tendency for a response that is reinforced after some, but not all, correct responses to be very resistant to extinction

Question 11

continuous reinforcement

Answer 11

the reinforcement of each and every correct response

Question 12

fixed interval schedule of reinforcement

Answer 12

scedule of reinforcement in which the interval of time that must pass before reinforcement becomes possible is always the same

Question 13

variable interval schedule of reinforcement

Answer 13

schedule of reinforcement in which the interval of time that must pass before reinforcement becomes possible is different for each trial or event

Question 14

fixed ratio schedule of reinforcement

Answer 14

schedule of reinforcement in which the number of responses required for reinforcement is always the same

Question 15

variable ratio schedule of reinforcement

Answer 15

schedule of reinforcement in which the number of responses required for reinforcement is different for each trial or event

Question 16

punishment

Answer 16

any event or object that, when following a response, makes that response less likely to happen again

Question 17

punishment by application

Answer 17

the punishment of a response by the addition or experience of an unpleasant stimulus

Question 18

punishment by removal

Answer 18

the punishment of a response by the removal of a pleasurable stimulus

Question 19

How can you make punishment more effective?

Answer 19

Punishment should immediately follow the behavior it is meant to punish, punishment should be consistent, punishment of the wrong behavior should be paired, whenever possible, with reinforcement of the right behavior

Question 20

discriminative stimulus

Answer 20

any stimulus, such as a stop sign or a doorknob, that provides the organism with a cue for making a certain response in order to obtain reinforcement

Question 21

shaping

Answer 21

the reinforcement of simple steps in behavior that lead to a desired, more complex behavior

Question 22

successive approximations

Answer 22

small steps in behavior, one after the other, that lead to a particular goal behavior

Question 23

instinctive drift

Answer 23

tendency for an animal’s behavior to revert to genetically controlled patterns, such as when pigs root and throw their food around before eating it

Question 24

behavior modification

Answer 24

the use of operant conditioning techniques to bring about desired changes in behavior

Question 25

token economy

Answer 25

type of behavior modification in which desired behavior is rewarded with tokens

Question 26

applied behavior analysis (ABA)

Answer 26

modern term for a form of functional analysis and behavior modification that uses a variety of behavioral techniques to mold a desired behavior or response

Question 27

biofeedback

Answer 27

use of feedback about biological conditions to bring involuntary responses, such as blood pressure and relaxation, under voluntary control

Question 28

neurofeedback

Answer 28

form of biofeedback using brain-scanning devices to provide feedback about brain activity in an effort to modify behavior