Motivation Lecture #1 Flashcards
What is the optimal amount of motivation? How can low levels and high levels of motivation be problematic?
To little - hard to get anything done
Too much - hard to get anything else done
Somewhere in the middle
How does operant conditioning involve learning two different associations?
A cue in the environment triggers an action
An action can trigger an outcome
Operant behavior reflects our intentions
How can we change an individual’s motivation for behavior?
Changing the frequency or reliability of the outcome to motivate the behavior
Establishing a really strong habit, so the cues trigger behavior even when the outcome isn’t there
Positive reinforcer
Increase behavior, Something is added to your environment
Positive punisher
Decrease behavior, Something is added to your environment
Negative reinforcer
Increase behavior, Something is taken away
Negative punisher
Decrease behavior, something is taken away
What are some of the reasons that punishment does not usually work?
Doesn’t increase good behaviors - just reduce unwanted ones
If the cues with punishment go away then the behavior might come back
What is a habit?
Doing an action on cue
How are habits useful?
Habits free our cognition to think about other things / problems
How do effective habits depend on effective cues?
Cues that don’t contradict the desired action and outcome
Cues that are specific to the situation
What is a post reinforcement pause?
“The dips”; common when we hit a milestone
Variable Interval - partial reinforcement schedules
Moderate steady response pattern, pop quiz
Fixed ratio - partial reinforcement schedules
Moments of reinforcement, post reinforcement pause; punch card
Fixed interval - partial reinforcement schedules
Moments of reinforcement, scalloped / wavy response pattern; Pause and ramp up to exam
