Operant Conditioning Flashcards

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1
Q

Define “Law of effect”

A

Of the several responses made to the same situation, those which are closely followed by satisfaction will be more firmly connected with the situation

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2
Q

What process did the cat in Thorndike’s (1911) experiment learn through?

A

Trial and error

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3
Q

Describe the conclusions Thorndike drew from his experiment

A
  • Showed that an animal learns a response through favourable consequences
  • This increases the probability of that behaviour repeating
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4
Q

How does operant conditioning compare to classical conditioning in the responses that are learnt?

A
  • Classical = The response already occur naturally to an animal, its only the stimuli that can be manipulated to elicits these responses
  • Operant = New behaviours are created in animals in response to a consequence
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5
Q

Define “positive reinforcement”

A

Something positive which is received when the desired behaviour is performed

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6
Q

Example of positive reinforcement

A

Giving a dog a treat when they act well behaved or perform a trick

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7
Q

What is “primary” positive reinforcement?

A

One that satisfies a basic need such as getting food

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8
Q

What is “secondary” positive reinforcement?

A

One that enables you to access a primary reinforcement such as getting money

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9
Q

Define “negative reinforcement”

A

Something negative is avoided after the desired behaviour is performed which increases the probabililty of the desirable behaviour being perfomed and repeated

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10
Q

Give and example of negative reinforcement

A

Doing homework to avoid detention

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11
Q

Define punishment

A

Causing some kind of physical or mental distress by giving a negative consequence and so decreasing the probability of the undesirable behaviour being repeated

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12
Q

Define positive punishment

A

Receiving something negative as punishment

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13
Q

Give an example of positive punishment

A

Getting hit by a rule at school for being naughty

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14
Q

Define negative punishment

A

Getting something taken away or being deprived of something as punishment

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15
Q

Give an example of negative punishment

A

Going to be without tea for being naughty

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16
Q

Give an example of primary punishment

A

Being deprived of food

17
Q

Give an example of secondary punishment

A

Being deprived of pocket money

18
Q

Define shaping in terms of successive approximations

A

Learning a new skill through different stages, being rewarded each time

19
Q

Give an example of shaping in terms of successive approximations

A

Learning how to use a knife and fork by using stages such as going from being fed, to a spoon, to a knife and fork

20
Q

Define chaining

A

A type of intervention that aims to create associations between behaviours in a behaviour chain

21
Q

An example of behaviour chaining?

A

When an individual puts on a t-shirt, placement of the shirt on top of the individuals head is a cue for the individual to pull the shirt over the head

22
Q

What are the 3 principles of operant conditioning?

A
  • Threhold = Introduce a weak stimulus and then increase it over time.
  • Fatigue = Repeat the unwanted response to the stimulus until tired
  • Incompatible response = Pair a stimulus to something more desirable
23
Q

Generalisation in terms of Operant conditioning?

A

The spreading of the effects of a behaviour strengthening contingency to other responses that are similar to the target response that resulted in the behaviour strengthening consequence

24
Q

Discrimination in operant conditioning

A

A procedure in which an operant response is reinforced in a particular stimulus but not in the absence of that stimulus.