Lesson 4: Operant conditioning Flashcards
Definition: consequences
consequences refer to events, actions, or circumstances which come directly after a behaviour has been emitted and influences the future frequency of that behaviour
Two types of consequences (2)
(1) We say that a stimulus functions as a reinforcer when it increases the future probability of the behaviour that came before it in the past.
(2) We say that a stimulus functions as a punisher when it decreases the future probability of a behaviour that came before it in the past.
Definition: contingency / contingent
“Contingent” is another way of saying “dependent on” OR “caused by”. When we refer to an operant contingency we are saying that the presence or absence of behaviour is dependent on the presence or absence of stimuli (antecedents and consequences).
Two types of contingencies (2)
(1) positive contingency = a situation where behaviour is followed by the addition or presentation of a stimulus.
(2) negative contingency = a situation where behaviour is followed by the removal or absence of a stimulus
Four types of operant contingency (4)
(1) Positive reinforcement contingencies
(2) Negative reinforcement contingencies
(3) Positive punishment contingencies
(4) Negative punishment contingencies
Definition: positive reinforcement contingency
When a behaviour is followed by the addition of a stimulus, and this stimulus leads to an increase in behaviour
Definition: positive punishment contingency
When a behaviour is followed by the addition of a stimulus, and this stimulus leads to a decrease in behaviour
Definition: negative reinforcement contingency
When a behaviour is followed by the removal of a stimulus, and this stimulus leads to an increase in behaviour
Definition: negative punishment contingency
When a behaviour is followed by the removal of a stimulus, and this stimulus leads to a decrease in behaviour
Why do we care about these four types of consequences?
Consequences influence how we have behaved in the past, how we currently behave, and how we will likely behave in the future. If we understand the functional relation between behaviour and the consequences that follow it then this helps to predict and intervene on that behaviour.
“Behaviour has a function”: what does this mean?
= the potential reason why a behaviour is occurring.
Four functions of behaviour (4)
(1) access to attention
(2) access to tangibles (stimuli)
(3) escape/avoidance
(4) automatic/sensory
Definition: acces to attention
This typically refers to the fact that behaviour is often emitted to have other organisms (people, animals, etc.) orient their behaviour towards you.
Definition: access to tangibles
This refers to emitting a behaviour in order to gain the ability to use, or interact with, non-organismic stimuli.
Definition: escape/avoidance
Emitting a behaviour in order to get out of a situation which is unpleasant (escape), or to prevent getting into such a situation in the first place (avoidance)
