Lesson 5: Motivation Through Consequences Flashcards
Behavior
What people do or say. It is related to but not the same as what one thinks, how one feels, one’s underlying attitude, or overall performance in accomplishing tasks.
Off-task behavior
That which typically results in unsuccessful task accomplishment.
On-task behavior
That which typically results in successful task accomplishment.
Consequence
Anything that follows a behavior (e.g. a person sticks his finger into a light socket and gets shocked. The consequence of the behavior is the shock). A consequence can be “gond” or “had.”
Continuous reinforcement schedule
When a reinforcement follows every correct or desired behavior. ‘This results in the quick learning of new behavior, but poor sustained behavior
When the reinforcer is removed.
Extinction
(From operant conditioning) When future behavior decreases in frequency because there is no consequence to a current behavior.
Fixed interval schedule
(From operant conditioning) When reinforcers are presented after corrected or desired responses on a fixed time schedule (e.g. daily, weekly, monthly, etc.).
Fixed Ration Schedule
The presentation of reinforcements after a fixed number of correct of desired responses (e.g., after every third arrest).
Law of Effect
A phenomenon that explains why some behaviors are repeated while others stop.
Motivation
Anything that provides direction, intensity, and persistence to behavior (Hughes, Ginett & Curphy, p. 370, 2009).
Motivation through Consequences (MTC)
A collection of three theories that, in different ways, explain how consequences that follow behavior control that behavior. The three theories are operant conditioning, observation learning (also called social learning or vicarious learning), and self-regulation.
Negative reinforcement
A theoretical model originating from psychologist B.F. Skinner that has changed over time. In this lesson it means
“punishment,” Skinner’s original definition.
Observational learning (aka vicarious learning and social learning)
A method of learning by watching the behavior of others and the associated consequences. Includes concepts such as vicarious extinction- vicarious learning, vicarious punishment, and vicarious reinforcement.
Operant conditioning
An approach to learning and motivation based on the relationship between a person’s behavior and the consequences they subsequently personally experience.
Operant response
Any behavioral reaction that someone undertakes voluntarily in response to a demand or cue from her environment.
Partial reinforcement schedules
When reinforcements are administered irregularly by either time or by the number of correct or desired responses. This sustains behavior over long periods of time, as compared to continuous reinforcement.
Positive reinforcement (aka reward contingency)
The effect of increasing the future, desired behavior by the presentation of a positive or pleasant consequence following current behavior.
Reinforcement
Any consequence that increases the occurrence of a behavior in the future.
Self-regulation
‘The process of controlling one’s own behavior by comparing one’s behavior to one’s personal standards and subsequently applying internal consequences.
Social comparison process
Involves learning by comparing oneself to others.
Variable interval schedule
The presentation of reinforcements irregularly around an average time (e.g., after one day, three days, and two days, averaging a reinforcement every two days). This is a powerful way to sustain desired behavior for long periods of time.
Variable ratio schedule
The presentation of reinforcements irregularly around an average number of correct or desired responses (e.g., the way a slot machine pays out). This is a powerful way to sustain desired behavior for long periods of time.