Module 27- Operant conditioning Flashcards
What is operant conditioning?
A type of learning in which behavior is strengthened by a reinforcer or diminished by a punisher.
Classical conditioning also includes respondent behavior. What is that?
Respondent behavior are actions that are automatic responses to stimuli.
B.F. Skinner elaborated on psychologist Edward Thorndike’s law of effect. What is the law of effect?
The law of effect states that behaviors followed by favorable consequences became more likely while behaviors followed by unfavorable consequences became less likely.
Skinner designed an operant chamber, what is that?
The operant chamber, or Skinner box, is a box/chamber that contains a bar or key that the animal can interact with to release a reward of food or water (reinforcer). Attached devices record the animal’s rate of interaction.
What is reinforcement?
Any event that strengthens or increases the frequency of the response that follows.
What is shaping?
An operant conditioning procedure in which reinforcers guide behavior closer and closer towards the desired behavior.
What is a discriminative stimulus?
A stimulus that produces a response after association with reinforcement (in contrast to related stimuli not associated with reinforcement)
Ex.: The discriminative stimulus might be the presence of a snack in the room; when the snack is present, the child is more likely to ask for it, when the snack is not present, the child is less likely to ask for it.
What is positive reinforcement?
A positive reinforcer is any stimulus that, when presented after a response, strengthens the response.
Adds a desirable stimulus
Ex: Pet a dog that comes when you call it
What is negative reinforcement?
A negative reinforcer is any stimulus that, when removed from after a response, strengthens the response.
(Negative reinforcement is not punishment)
Removes/reduces and aversive stimulus
Ex.: Taking painkillers to end pain
What are primary reinforcers?
An innately (born with) reinforcing stimulus; such as one that satisfies a biological need.
No learning is required
What are conditioned reinforcers (also known as secondary reinforcers)?
A stimulus that gains its reinforcing power through its association with a primary reinforcer
Ex.: If a rat in a Skinner box learns that a light signals food delivery, the rat will work to turn on the light. The light has become a conditioned reinforcer
What are reinforcement schedules?
A pattern that defines how often a desired response will be reinforced.
What is continuous reinforcement? Does extinction occur rapidly or slowly?
Reinforcing the desired response every time it occurs.
Learning occurs rapidly making this the best choice for mastering a behavior.
Extinction occurs rapidly
What are partial (intermittent) reinforcement schedules?
Responses are sometimes reinforced, sometimes not.
Results in slower acquisition on a response but much greater resistance to extinction than continuous reinforcement.
Ex.: Gamblers playing slots; they try time and time again, hope is eternal.
Ex.: Occasionally giving in to a children’s tantrums for the sake of peace and quiet intermittently reinforces the tantrums.
What are fixed-ratio schedules?
Reinforce behavior after a set number of responses
Ex.: Boba shops may reward us with a free drink after every 10 purchased
