operant conditioning Flashcards
what is operant conditioning?
learning that occurs when a behaviour is followed by an event and the nature of this event increases or decreaseds the probability of the behaviour being repeated
what is reinforcement?
takes place when a behaviour is followed by an event and this increases the probability of that behaviour being repeated
what is positive reinforcement?
occurs when something nice is introduced to the individual following a behaviour, increasing the probability of that behaviour being repeated
what is negative reinforcement?
occurs when something unpleasant is removed from the individual following a behaviour, increasing the probability of that behaviour being repeated
what is punishment?
takes place when an event follows a behaviour and this decreases the probability that the behaviour will be repeated
what is positive punishment?
occurs when something unpleasant is introduced to the individual following a behaviour, decreasing the probability of that behaviour being repeated
what is primary reinforcement?
takes place when the thing that acts as a reinforcer has biological significance, such as food
what is secondary reinforcement?
takes place when the thing that acts as a reinforcer has become associated with something of biological significance such as money and food
what is negative punishment?
occurs when something nice is removed from an individual following a behaviour, decreasing the probability of that behaviour being repeated
what is the skinner box?
this contained a supply of food pellets that could be released as reinforcers when the animal learned to do something, for example operate a lever
- some operant chambers also contained electrified floors which could be used to punish behaviour
- using reinforcement and punishment, skinner could train the animals
what is behaviour reinforcement?
a behaviour is reinforced when an event that follows it increases the probability of the behaviour being repeated
- this is typically a pleasant consequence but could be negative
what is a strength of operant conditioning?
it is supported by many studies conducted on both humans and animals
- hundred of lab experiments (e.g. skinner) demonstrating operant conditioning
there are consistent findings regarding the ability to modify behaviour using reinforcement and punishment
modern brian studies have revealed brain systems that relate to reinforcement
why are punishments introduced?
some punsihers are introduced deliberately by people in order to change someone’s behaviour
- in the criminal system we use negative punishers like prison sentences that deprive people of freedom
but other punishers are naturally occuring, the first time we touch something hot like a stove we get burnt so we learn not to touch it again
what is a weakness of operant conditioning?
it can only explain how existing behaviours are strengthened or weakened not where they originate
- although operant conditioning can explain a much wider range of behaviours than classical conditioning including a complex chain it is still incomplete as a theory for the acquisition of new behaviour
how can it be applied?
operant conditioning has many practical applications e.g. education
- systems of reinforcement can be used for children e.g. gold star
- parents often use star charts to reinforce desirable behaviour
how does operant conditioning lend to social control?
\\\\\\\reward and punishment are used in societies to regulate the behaviour of the citizens
- one of skinners aims was to use reinforcement effectively in order to create a society in which everyone’s liberty was tightly controlled
