Learning theories= Behaviourism (OC) Flashcards
1
Q
What is operant conditioning?
A
- Skinner believed that classical conditioning was too simple to offer a complete explanation of complex human behaviour. He stated that the causes of an action and its consequences should be studied. He stated that our behaviours are determined by their consequences.
2
Q
What are positive reinforcers?
A
- In his research he demonstrated that direct rewards positively reinforce behaviour and these behaviours are likely to be repeated.
- Skinner distinguished between two types of positive reinforcers.
1. Primary reinforcers
2. Secondary reinforcers.
3
Q
What are primary reinforcers?
A
- These are stimuli that are naturally reinforcing, they are not learned.
-They directly satisfy a need (e.g. food).
4
Q
What are secondary reinforcers?
A
- These are stimuli that are reinforced through their association with a primary reinforcer, such as money or merits in school.
- They do not directly satisfy a need but offer a way to have that need met.
5
Q
What is negative reinforcement?
A
- Skinner also showed that behaviour can be motivated by removing (or avoiding) something unpleasant.
- He called this negative reinforcement.
6
Q
How can we extinguish behaviour?
A
- Each time a behaviour is reinforced, it is strengthened. If a behaviour is not reinforced it is weakened over time and is extinguished (it ‘dies out’).
7
Q
What is operant conditioning?
A
- Behaviour that is punished is less likely to be repeated.
Behaviour that is rewarded is more likely to be repeated. - This process is called operant conditioning.
8
Q
What is the Skinner Box?
A
- Skinner conducted experiments with rats and pigeons in a specially designed cage called the Skinner box.
- This device was used to objectively record an animal’s behaviour under controlled conditions.
9
Q
Lever pressing in rats (positive reinforcement)
A
- Skinner observed that as the rat moved around the cage it would ‘accidently’ press a lever, when this happened a food pellet ( a positive reinforcer) was dropped.
- Skinner observed that very quickly, the hungry rat began to to intentionally press the lever to obtain food. He suggested that the rat had ‘learned’ to that pressing the lever had consequences and was motivated to repeat the behaviour is pursuit of the reward it received.
10
Q
Lever pressing in rats (negative reinforcement/ escape learning).
A
- Skinner also showed how negative reinforcement could be used to shape the rats’ behaviour. He found that rats could be conditioned to perform the same behaviour (lever pressing) to avoid an unpleasant stimulus.
- He subjected the rats to an electric shock whilst they were in the Skinner box. As they moved around the box, they ‘accidently’ pressed the lever and this stopped the shock.
- They quickly learned to go straight to the lever and press it as soon as the electric shock was switched on. This shows that the rats were motivated to repeat the lever pressing to avoid an unpleasant experience.
- Skinner called this escape learning.
11
Q
Avoidance learning
A
- In a variation of this study, Skinner turned on a light just before the electric shock was switched on. He found that the rats quickly learned to press the lever when the light came on to prevent the electric shock.
- He called this avoidance learning.
12
Q
Schedules of reinforcement
A
- Behaviourists found that behaviours do not have to be reinforced consistently to be repeated. Different schedules of reinforcement have different effects on the speed of learning and extinction.
1. Continuous reinforcement
2. Variable-ratio reinforcement
13
Q
What is continuous reinforcement?
A
- A behaviour is rewarded every time it is displayed.
- Learning= slow.
- Extinction= fast.
14
Q
What is Variable-ratio reinforcement?
A
- Behaviour is reinforced unpredictably.
- Learning= fast.
- Distinction= slow.
15
Q
Application of schedules of reinforcement in schools
A
- If a teacher wanted to encourage students to answer questions in class, they should praise them for every attempt (regardless of whether their answer is correct). Gradually the teacher will only praise the students when their answer is correct, and over time only exceptional answers will be praised. Unwanted behaviours, such as lateness can be extinguished through being ignored by the teacher (rather than being reinforced by having attention drawn to them).
