Module 4 Lesson 2 - Operant Conditioning Flashcards
Operant Conditioning
Training to achieve the desired behavior that is not present.
Respondent Behavior
Involuntary response to stimuli.
Operant Behavior
Behavior that produces the desired response.
Law of Effect
Thorndike believed that behavior would be repeated (even if it was an accident) if there was a reward.
Operant Chamber / Skinner Box
A device designed by B.F. Skinner to contain an animal for observation of its behavior in a lab. It is an enclosed box where the animal must complete tasks for food and water, like pressing a lever.
Shaping
A psychological behavior training that uses a similar behavior of the animal or person to reach the desired behavior.
Reinforcer
Used to strengthen or increase the desired behavior.
Positive Reinforcement
This is a positive stimulus (like rewards) to increase the frequency of the desired behavior.
Negative Reinforcement
This is the strengthening of a desired outcome by removing an adverse stimulus.
Positive Punishment
Applying a consequence after an undesirable behavior in the form of additional stimulus to stop the undesired behavior.
Negative Punishment
Applying a consequence after an undesirable behavior in the form of removal of the stimulus.
Fixed-ratio schedule of Reinforcement
Used solely in operant conditioning to reinforce a response after a specific amount of responses.
Ex. A teacher asks you a question, you answer it and are told “great job” each time (or every number of times).
Variable-ratio schedule of Reinforcement
Used solely in operant conditioning to reinforce a response a changing (unset) amount of response.
Ex. A teacher asks you a question, you answer it and are told “great job” randomly (not each time).
Continuous Reinforcement
Used solely in operant conditioning to reinforce a response each time. Similar to the fixed-ratio schedule of reinforcement except that there is a positive reinforcement each time.
Partial Reinforcement
Used solely in operant conditioning to reinforce response at intervals.
Primary Reinforcer
Biological reinforcers that bring pleasure, like foods and drinks.
Secondary Reinforcer
A reinforcer that is not necessary and can be helpful or not.
Ex. If the primary reinforcer is food and drinks, the secondary reinforcer would be buying them.
Conditioned Reinforcer
Also sometimes called a secondary reinforcer - Reinforcers uses mainly in humans, like grades or money.
Token Economy
Using an item (like tokens) to increase the desired behavior or decrease the undesired behavior in learning.
Operant Conditioning
The training that is needed to achieve the desired behavior. This is different from classical conditioning because in classical conditioning, you are working with already present behaviors.
Classical Conditioning vs. Operant Conditioning (ex.)
In Pavlov’s dog experiment, the dog already salivated when presented with food, whereas operant conditioning would be like training the dog to ring the bell for his food (since it wasn’t an already present behavior).
Respondent Behavior
An involuntary response to stimuli - like sneezing when you inhale pepper or hairspray.
Operant Behavior
When behavior produces a consequence - like when a dog knows that he can get a treat when he goes into his crate at bedtime (although he may sometimes try to go just to get the treat).
Law of Effect
The reward received as a consequence. Thorndike theorized this by putting a cat in a box. The cat accidentally pressed the lever and got a treat, to which it learned and continued to repeat the same behavior on purpose.
