Learning Theory III: Operant Conditioning

Question 1

describe operant conditioning

Answer 1

• behavior is a function of its consequences–it is increased or decreased as a result of the consequences that follow it
• Law of Effect: behavior followed by a pleasant consequence is strenghtened (reinforced) and tends to be repeated; that followed by an unpleasant consequence is weakened (punished) and less likely to be repeated
• in contrast to classical conditioning, operant involves primarily voluntary behaviors

Question 2

describe positive reinforcement

Answer 2

• a pleasurable stimulus is applied following a behavior
• the behavior is strengthened as a result
• contingency: the reinforcing stimulus is said to be contingent upon performance of the behavior

Question 3

according to the behaviorist position, too little positive reinforcement in life results in ______

Answer 3

according to the behaviorist position, too little positive reinforcement in life results in depression

• this leads to a downward spiral of increasing levels of depression

Question 4

according to a cognitive therapist position, the primary source to depression would be _____

Answer 4

according to a cognitive therapist position, the primary source to depression would be negative thinking

Question 5

ini the case of patients suffering from _____, physician attention may inadvertently reinforce unnecessary clinic visits

Answer 5

ini the case of patients suffering from somatic symptom disorders, physician attention may inadvertently reinforce unnecessary clinic visits

Question 6

describe the factors that affect the effectiveness of reinforcement

Answer 6

• immediacy: the reinforcer is most effective when presented immediately after the behavior
• consistency: reinforcing every instance of the behavior results in the behavior being learned most quickly
• contingencies should be made clear

Question 7

describe the schedules of reinforcement

Answer 7

• continuous reinforcement: every instance of the behavior is reinforced
  
  • result: quicker learning but the behavior extinguishes more quickly
• intermittent reinforcement: not every instance of the behavior is reinforced
  
  • result: behavior not learned as quickly but is more resistant to extinction
  • intermittent reinforcement delivered on a variable ratio schedule is most resistant to extinction (a slot machine that pays off on average every 10 times)

Question 8

Answer 8

child B, since intermittent reinforcement is harder to extinguish

Question 9

contrast primary vs secondary reinforcers

Answer 9

• primary reinforcer: naturally reinforcing
  
  • food, water, sex, some drugs, nurturance
• secondary reinforcer: acquire their reinforcing ability through learning
  
  • applause, an “A” grade, a gold medal, money

Question 10

describe nuances with food as a reinforcer

Answer 10

• satiation: primary reinforcers are subject to satiation
  
  • the subject gets enough of the reward and its no longer effective
  • better to use secondary reinforcers
• food as reinforcement: feeding is often recommended to soothe a complaining infant; it tends to work, even when hunger isn’t the problem
  
  • recent research suggests an association between use of food as a reinforcer and being overweight at 1 year
  • behavioral patterns are established early–the contingency of food improving emotion and depression may prove problematic later in life

Question 11

desccribe negative reinforcement

Answer 11

• an aversive stimulus is removed, terminated, or avoided following the behavior
• the behavior is strengthened as a result, and more likely to be repeated
• example: the behavior of seeking medical attention often results in alleviation of discomfort, pain or anxiety
  
  • this behavior is thus negatively reinforcement and is more likely to be repeated
  • exams removed, curfew removed, no homework, exemption from chores

Question 12

clicker #2

Answer 12

negatively reinforced

Question 13

summarize positive vs negative reinforcement

Answer 13

Question 14

describe avoidance behavior

Answer 14

• behaviors that allow the person to avoid an anxiety provoking stimulus or situation are referred to as avoidance behaviors
• such behaviors are negatively reinforced–they are more likely to be repealed because they allow the person to avoid the unpleasant anxiety associated with the stimulus
• avoidance behaviors are seen in phobias, OCD, PTSD angr agoraphobia

Question 15

describe operant conditioning and drug dependence

Answer 15

• the reinforcement theory of drug dependence involves both positive and negative reinforcement
  
  • positive reinforcement: some psycho-active drugs are powerful reinforcers and strengthen drug-taking and drug-seeking behaviors
  • negative reinforcement: in a physically dependent subject, the drug also terminates unpleasant withdrawal effects, thereby strengthening drug taking/seeking behavior (and the needle habit)

Question 16

describe the effect of stimulus control

Answer 16

• whether a previously reinforced behavior is actually performed often depends on the presence of certain stimuli in the environment
• if such stimuli have in the past been associated with reinforcement of the behavior, they are referred to as antecedent or discriminative stimuli (SDs)
• the presence of such stimuli make performance of the behavior more likely because they predict reinforcement
• so, behavior is the result of both its consequences and antecedent environmental stimuli

Question 17

explain the example of eating and stimulus control

Answer 17

Question 18

describe positive vs negative punishments

Answer 18

• positive punishment: application of an aversive stimulus contingent upon performance of the behavior
  
  • examples: spanking, yelling, shocking
• negative punishment: removal of a pleasant or desirable stimulus contingent upon the behavior
  
  • examples: removing privileges, removing points, withdrawing attention

Question 19

describe factors affecting effectiveness of punishment

Answer 19

• punishment is most effective when it is presented consistently, immediately following a behavior and with the contingencies made clear

Question 20

describe primary vs secondary punishers

Answer 20

• primary punishers are naturally punishing (shock, pain, nausea)
• secondary punishers are also learned (ridicule, banishment from one’s group, an F grade)

Question 21

describe operant extinction

Answer 21

• occurs when reinforcement is consistently withheld following a previously reinforced behavior
• post-extinction burst: a rapid burst of the behavior may be observed at the beginning of extinction trials, followed by extinction
  
  • kid that is screaming is ignored, so they scream louder and louder

Question 22

contrast operant extinction vs punishment

Answer 22

• both extinction and punishment weaken behavior
• in the case of operant extinction, when a previously reinforced behavior is emitted, nothing happens (ignoring screaming child) (reinforcement used to happen)
• however, in the case of punishment, a behavior is emitted and something happens (the behavior is followed by a consequence)

Question 23

Answer 23

negatively reinforced

Question 24

Answer 24

weight loss has been both positively reinforced (compliments) and negatively reinforced (removal of teasing)

Question 25

Answer 25

discriminative; negatively reinforced

• antecedent stimuli = discriminative (always)