Operant Conditioning Flashcards
1
Q
Define reinforcement
A
- anything which has the effect of increasing the likelihood of the behaviour being repeated
2
Q
Define positive reinforcement
A
- something pleasant given when a desirable behaviour is shown
= increases likelihood of behaviour being repeated
E.g. sweets after giving correct answer to questions
3
Q
Define negative reinforcement
A
- something unpleasant is TAKEN away when a desirable behaviour is shown
= increases likelihood of behaviour repeated
E.g. annoying sound (UP) when unbuckled seatbelt = causing you to put your seatbelt on (DB)
4
Q
Define positive punishment
A
- something unpleasant given when an undesirable behaviour is shown
= decreases likelihood of behaviour being repeated
E.g. shouting / hitting to children when they behave bad
5
Q
Define negative reinforcement
A
- something pleasant is taken away when an undesirable behaviour shown
= decreases likelihood of behaviour being repeated
E.g. freedom / removing games when children behave bad
6
Q
Define primary reinforcers
A
- anything that satisfy the basic needs / wants
E.g. food given / encouragement given
7
Q
Define secondary reinforcer
A
- things that can be given in exchange for a primary reinforcer
E.g. token given to get an ice cream after finishing dinner / money
8
Q
Define extinction in (OC)
A
- when a conditioned response is no longer reinforced, the behaviours will gradually weaken/ disappear
E.g. uniform standards will decrease if unpunished
9
Q
Define stimulus generation in OC
A
- if reinforced to make a certain response to certain stimuli, they are likely to make same response to similar stimulus
E.g. payment for similar chores promotes behaviour
10
Q
How does behaviour shaping work ?
A
1) reward to people / animals on anything movement that is close to the desired behaviour vaguely
2) waiting for action that is near to desired behaviour
3) wait for the actual behaviour then reinforcement given
11
Q
Define interval schedules reinforcement
A
- when reinforcement is provided after specified amount of time
12
Q
Define fixed interval schedules
A
- a reward is given after specified amount of time
E.g. revise 1 hr = reward 2 hr TV
13
Q
Define variable interval schedule
A
- when the time varies between two rewards that is given after behaviour is done
E.g. winning games
14
Q
Define ratio schedules
A
- reinforcement is given after a number of correct behaviours
15
Q
Define fixed ratio schedule
A
- reinforcing response only after a specified number of correct behaviour
E.g. get 10 stickers = go to toy shop
16
Q
Define variable ratio schedules
A
- rewarding after a random number of correct reposes = different amount of reward is given after desired behaviour
E.g. 5 stickers /10 = go to toy shop but not buying toys
17
Q
Pros of operant conditioning
A
- supporting evidence from skinner = increases usefulness of theory and giving scientific credibility to OC
- practical application to society = token economy programme in institutions = practically promote and increase positive behaviour
18
Q
Cons of OC
A
- criticism with supporting evidence = anthropomorphic
- different theories are available = reductionist
19
Q
Compare CC and OC
A
- CC behaviour does not have any environmental consequences whereas OC operates on the environment to produce an outcome
- CC is when stimulus occurs first then the response whereas OC the consequence happens after the response
20
Q
What does the law of effect suggest ?
A
- response that is following by pleasant consequence will become more probable whereas response with unpleasant consequence will become less probable
21
Q
Describe skinners work
A
- developed boxes mainly tested on rats and pigeons for OC
- the rat had to press a lever to open the food tray and obtain the reinforcement of food
- food is delivered every time it presses the lever, so the action of pressing lever is reinforced
- causes the rat to press lever more often which increases behaviour = be conditioned
