Lectures 20,21,22,23 Flashcards
Learning And Instrumental Conditioning
Who designed the “puzzle boxes” for studying animal learning and what was the purpose?
E. Thorndike designed the “puzzle boxes” to examine whether animals could solve problems or “think”.
What is Thorndike’s Law of Effect?
“Of several responses made to the same situation, those which are accompanied or closely followed by satisfaction to the animal will, other things being equal, be more firmly connected with the situation, so that, when it recurs, they will be more likely to recur.”
How does punishment affect behaviour according to Thorndike?
Behaviors followed by discomfort will have their connections with the situation weakened, making them less likely to recur.
What is the main difference between Classical and Instrumental Conditioning?
Classical conditioning is a relation between two stimuli (CS and US), while Instrumental conditioning concerns the probability of a response changing as a function of its consequences.
Who is B.F. Skinner and what is he known for?
B.F. Skinner is a famous psychologist known for his work in Behaviorism and his development of the principles of operant conditioning.
Define Operant Conditioning.
Operant conditioning is a type of learning where the strength of a behavior is modified by its consequences, such as reinforcement or punishment.
What is Positive Reinforcement?
Positive reinforcement involves adding a stimulus or event contingent upon a response to increase that behavior.
What is Positive Punishment?
Positive punishment involves adding a stimulus or event contingent upon a response to decrease that behaviour.
What is Negative Reinforcement?
Negative reinforcement involves removing a stimulus or event contingent upon a response to increase that behaviour.
What is Negative Punishment?
Negative punishment involves removing a stimulus or event contingent upon a response to decrease that behaviour.
What are Conditioned Reinforcers and Punishers?
Conditioned reinforcers and punishers acquire their properties through association with primary reinforcers or punishers.
What are Schedules of Reinforcement?
Schedules of reinforcement are specific patterns of presenting reinforcers over time, such as continuous and partial reinforcement.
What is a Fixed-Ratio Schedule?
A fixed-ratio schedule provides reinforcement after a fixed number of non-reinforced responses.
What is a Variable-Ratio Schedule?
A variable-ratio schedule provides reinforcement after a variable number of non-reinforced responses, averaging around a predetermined number.
What is a Fixed-Interval Schedule?
A fixed-interval schedule provides reinforcement for the first response after a fixed period of time has elapsed.
What is a Variable-Interval Schedule?
A variable-interval schedule provides reinforcement for the first response after a variable time interval has elapsed, averaging around a predetermined time.
What is Extinction in Operant Conditioning?
Extinction occurs when reinforcers are no longer delivered contingent upon a response, leading to a decrease in the strength of that response.
What is the Partial-Reinforcement Extinction Effect?
The partial-reinforcement extinction effect is the greater resistance to extinction exhibited by responses maintained under partial reinforcement schedules.
What is Premack’s Principle?
Premack’s Principle states that more probable behaviours can reinforce less probable behaviours.
What is Stimulus Control in Instrumental Conditioning?
Stimulus control refers to the ability of antecedent stimuli to control instrumental behavior through cues or signals.
What is Stimulus Generalization and Discrimination?
Stimulus generalization is the extent to which behavior extends to different but similar stimuli, while discrimination is the ability to distinguish between different stimuli.
What is Latent Learning?
Latent learning is learning that occurs without obvious reinforcement or punishment, demonstrated when a reinforcer is later introduced.
