Operant Conditioning Flashcards
What is operant conditioning?
A learning theory where you learn through consequences.
What is an antecedent?
What has already happened
What is A-B-C model?
Antecedent— Behaviour— Consequence
What is a reinforcement?
When desired behaviour is rewarded so is more likely to be repeated.
What is positive reinforcement?
Rewards desired behaviour by ADDING something pleasant.
What is negative reinforcement?
Rewards desired behaviour by REMOVING something unpleasant.
What is a primary reinforcement?
A reward we want instinctively/ basic need.
What is a secondary reinforcement?
A reward we have learned to value.
What is a punishment?
When an undesirable behaviour produces unpleasant consequences.
What is positive punishment?
Punished for undesirable behaviour by ADDING something unpleasant.
What is negative punishment?
Punishment for undesirable behaviour by REMOVING something pleasant.
What is an example of positive reinforcement? (4)
Food, affection, money, compliments
What is an example of a negative reinforcement? (1)
Stopping pain
What is an example of a primary reinforcement? (3)
Food, water, shelter
What is an example of a secondary reinforcement? (1)
Money
What is an example of a positive punishment? (3)
Criticism, shock, writing lines
What is an example of a negative punishment? (3)
Grounding, deducting money, taking phone
What is successive approximations?
Rewarding a behaviour as it gets closer to desired response.
Schedules of Reinforcement: CONTINUOUS REINFORCEMENT (3)
Behaviour is reinforced every time
Low but steady response rate
Behaviour will extinguish quickly if reinforcement is withheld
Schedules of Reinforcement: FIXED INTERVAL (3)
Provides reinforcement at set times
Uneven response
Extinguishes quite quickly
Schedules of Reinforcement: VARIABLE INTERVAL (3)
When reinforcement is given after varying time intervals
Uneven resposes
Extinction is quite rapid
Schedules of Reinforcement: FIXED RATIO (3)
Reinforcement is given after a certain number of responses
Uneven responses
Extinction is quite rapid
Schedules of Reinforcement: VARIABLE RATIO (2)
Reinforcement given after a varying number of responses
Extinction occurs gradually
What is contingent?
A clear link between a persons behaviour and consequences it produces
- know what being punished/rewarded for
What is contiguent?
Consequences follow soon after behaviour
- if too long a delay, conditioning is weakened
What is token economy?
A treatment that provides secondary reimbursement for a desirable behaviour that can be saved up/ exchanged for primary reinforcer
What is an example of where token economy is used?
Prisons- library use, TV use, phone calls
Evaluating Operant Conditioning: STRENGTHS (3)
- Scientifically credible— consistent findings
- modern brain studies— Chase et al (2015)
- reliable/ replicable/ valid
Evaluating Operant Conditioning: WEAKNESSES (2)
- still incomplete
- can’t account for learning of new behaviour never done before
Evaluating Operant Conditioning: APPLICATION (2)
- Schools, nurseries
- Prisons
Supporting Study: PAUL & LENZ (1977) (5)
- 84 schizophrenic pps, token economy
- Reduced bizarre motor behaviour/ improved self-care behaviour
- didn’t help: delusions/hallucinations/ hostile behaviour
- after 11% needed medication compared to 100% before
- unethical: social control
