Operant Conditioning Flashcards
Human behaviour
Seek pleasurable experiences
Avoid negative experiences
Mainly influenced by stimulus events that follow the response
Behaviourism
Measurement of directly observable and quantifiable events (behaviours and the environment)
What is the ‘black box’
Stimulus –> Black Box –> Response
Black box represents the mental processes in a person that cannot be studied
Operant Conditioning
Responses are controlled by their consequences
Instrumental Learning
Responses may be a means of obtaining a desired outcome
What is the Law of effect?
behaviour that leads to satisfying consequences is more likely to be repeated where behaviour that leads to unsatisfying consequences in less likely to be repeated
What is the outcome of reinforcement?
occurs when an event following a response increases tendency to repeat that response e.g. do something good get a treat
What does positive reinforcement refer to
It refers to the delivery of a pleasant stimulus following performance of particular behaviours
What does negative reinforcement refer to
It refers to the removal of an unpleasant stimulus following performance of a behaviour
What do both positive and negative reinforcements achieve?
They both increase the likelihood of the behaviour being performed but for different reasons
What is a reinforcer
A reinforcer refers to any event that strengthens the behaviour it follows
What is a primary reinforcer
Stimuli that are inherently reinforcing because they satisfying biological needs (food, water, warmth)
What is a secondary reinforcer
Two types
When a previously neutral stimuli become a reinforcement because it is associated with primary reinforcers (money, grades etc.)
Material objects are secondary reinforcers (clothing, jewellery, car etc.)
What are intrinsic and extrinsic secondary reinforcers
Intrinsic is when the reinforcer is a sense of satisfaction/achievement where extrinsic is a tangible reward (i.e. money)
Social reinforcers
Smiles, praise etc.
