Lesson 3 - Operant Conditioning

Question 1

Operant Conditioning Definition

Answer 1

Behaviour shaped/maintained by consequences

Question 2

Reinforcement definition

Answer 2

Consequence to increase behaviour

Question 3

Punishment Definition

Answer 3

Consequence to decrease behaviour

Question 4

Positive Reinforcement definition

Answer 4

Receiving reward when behaviour is performed

• Primary reinforcement is reward of natural needs
• Secondary reinforcement is reward of other needs (money)

Question 5

Negative Reinforcement

Answer 5

Behaviour to avoid bad consequence

Question 6

Positive punishment Definition

Answer 6

Add something unpleasant

Question 7

Negative Punishment Definition

Answer 7

Remove something good

Question 8

Skinner experiment procedure

Answer 8

• Rats placed in “The Skinner box”
-cage w/ lever, electric floor, food dispenser

• If rat flicks lever food pellet dispensed
-positive reinforcement

OR

• If rat flicks lever floor stops being electric
-negative reinforcement

Question 9

Schedules of reinforcement Definition

Answer 9

• Continuous reinforcement
-every time rat flicks lever always receive food pellet

• Fixed interval
-rat flicks lever and only receives food pellet at fixed times (every 30s)

• Fixed ratio
-rat receivers food pellet after flicking for fixed number of times

Question 10

Operant Conditioning Strengths

Answer 10

• Highly controlled conditions with experimental method

Question 11

Operant Conditioning Weaknesses

Answer 11

• Deterministic
-Skinner ignores free will

• Ignores biological approach

-behaviourist approach ignores role of genes, hormones, neural mechanisms

• Ethical issues

-psychological and physical detriment to animals health