operant conditioning Flashcards
operant conditioning
involves relations between environmental stimuli and our own behaviour/ focuses on events which comes before and after our behaviours and how these events impact on said behaviour
Describe the experiment conducted by Edward L. Thorndike in 1905.
Edward. Thorndike placed a hungry cat inside a ‘puzzle box’ and observed its behavior as it tried to escape and eat food.
what were the initial behaviors exhibited by the cat inside the ‘puzzle box’?
The initial behaviors included ‘random’ movements, meowing, scratching, and hissing.
Define the Law of Effect proposed by Thorndike.
The Law of Effect states that the occurrence of a favorable outcome strengthens the response that produced it.
How did Thorndike hypothesize that the cat learned to escape the box?
Thorndike hypothesized that the cat learned to emit a behavior that allowed it to escape the box, as only this behavior led to a favorable outcome.
What did Thorndike suggest the reward created for the cat?
Thorndike suggested that the reward created a ‘satisfying state’ for the cat, leading it to engage in the satisfying behavior.
How did Thorndike’s experiment with the cat in the ‘puzzle box’ contribute to the theory of Operant Conditioning?
Thorndike’s experiment laid the foundation for the theory of Operant Conditioning, as it demonstrated the influence of favorable outcomes on behavior.
Describe the cat’s behavior after subsequent trials in the ‘puzzle box’ according to Thorndike’s experiment.
After subsequent trials, the cat’s behavior became less ‘random’ and more determined/functional as it became efficient at operating the latch to escape.
the three term contingency
Antecedent – behaviour – consequence
“response class”.
a group of behaviours is referred to as a “response class”/it is a response class that is strengthened or weakened by operant conditioning
Classically conditioned behaviours (respondent behaviours) characteristics
Classically conditioned behaviours (respondent behaviours) are typically quite “fixed” behaviours – often reflexes.
Operant behaviour characteristics
Operant behaviours are not “fixed”, or defined by their topography. (i.e. not one specific behaviour)/ may vary each time they are emitted, or vary in different environments/ however they are functionally similar.
Operant behaviour
Operant behaviour is any behaviour whose future frequency is determined primarily by its history of consequences.
Classically conditioned behaviour (respondent behaviour)
Classically conditioned behaviour (respondent behaviour) does not give the organism the ability to learn from the consequences of its actions. CC behaviour is typically elicited by antecedent events.
Operant conditioning
Operant conditioning is the process and selective effects of consequences on behaviour.
how is the levels of behaviour determined?
Whether we produce more or less of the behaviour is determined by whether the response has been strengthened or weakened by its consequences.
impact of Skinner
Along with the Skinner box (operant chamber) he also invented the cumulative recorder, a device which accurately records rate of responding/ Created objective methods of observing, measuring and interpreting behaviour
Describe the operant chamber (Skinner Box) invented by B.F. Skinner.
It is a device used to study operant conditioning in animals, providing a controlled environment to observe behavior and its consequences.
Describe positive reinforcement in the context of alcohol consumption.
reinforcement refers to the pleasant feelings and social enhancement effects that alcohol provides leading to greater frequency and quantity alcohol consumption.
What is the difference between positive and negative reinforcement?
Positive reinforcement involves the presentation or increase of a stimulus, likely to increase the frequency of a behavior, while negative reinforcement involves the withdrawal or decrease of a stimulus, also likely to increase the frequency of a behavior.
Define negative reinforcement and its association with alcohol consumption.
Negative reinforcement encompasses relief from negative affective states like stress or anxiety, and is more predictive of subsequent drinking related problems and alcohol use disorders.
negative reinforcement
negative reinforcement generally refers to the removal of aversive stimuli from the environment.
Describe the difference between positive and negative punishment.
Positive punishment involves adding an aversive stimulus, while negative punishment involves removing a desirable stimulus.
Define reinforcement and punishment in the context of behaviorism.
Reinforcement increases the likelihood of a behavior, while punishment decreases the likelihood of a behavior.
