Operant conditioning Flashcards
How do you learn from operant conditioning?
Via reinforcement or punishment
what is positive reinforcement?
Something good is given so that behaviour will continue
What is negative reinforcement?
Take away something bad so that the repeating behaviour will increase
What is positive punishment?
Giving something bad so that the repeating behaviour will decrease
What is negative punishment?
Take away something good so that the repeating behaviour will decrease
What is shaping?
The method of successive approximations- you initially positively reinforce behaviour if not 100% first time to its desired outcome.
What are the reinforcement schedules?
- fixed interval
- variable interval
-fixed ratio
variable ratio
Who supports operant conditioning?
Supported by skinner who found the rats learned to push the lever when they were rewarded with a food pellet. This is a strength because it supports the idea of positive reinforcement which makes it a credible explanation if human behaviour.
However the research took place on rats which means it cannot be generalised to humans.
Who conflicts operant conditioning?
Pavlov conflicts operant conditioning as he found dogs associated the bell with the food and salivated as a response. This conflicts operant conditioning because it suggests behave is learnt via association which means operant conditioning lacks validity.
However we cannot generalise the findings to humans.
What is another explanation?
Another explanation is Classical conditioning which suggests that you learn via association and matched pairs. This is a better explanation as it is more holistic because it takes into account that the ups is innate and the neutral stimulus is due to the environment which makes it a more valid explanation.
How is it useful?
It allows positive punishment to be sued in societies such as fines for speeding. Therefore this allows us to decrease levels of crime in society.
How can it be tested?
Skinner tested operant conditioning because he had a highlight controlled lab experiment. This is a strength because all extraneous variables were removed which allows us to establish cause and effect which makes it a credible explanation of behaviour,
However this is deterministic as it suggests that we have no free will.
