Operant Conditioning (4) Flashcards
Define Operant Conditioning
Learning that occurs when a behaviour is followed by an event and the nature of this event increases or decreases the probability of the behaviour being repeated.
Define Reinforcement
Takes place when a behaviour is followed by an event which increases the probability of the behaviour being repeated.
Define Positive reinforcement
Positive reinforcement occurs when something nice is introduced to the individual following a behaviour increases the probability of the behaviour being repeated.
Define negative reinforcement
Negative reinforcement occurs when something negative is removed from an individual following a behaviour, increasing the probability of the behaviour being repeated.
Define punishment
Punishment takes place when an event follows a behaviour and this decreases the probability the behaviour well be repeated,
Define primary reinforcement
Primary reinforcement takes place when the thing that acts as a reinforcer has biological significance such as food/
Define positive punishment
Positive punishment occurs when something unpleasant is introduced following a behaviour decreasing the chance of it being repeated
Define Negative punishment
Negative punishment occurs when something nice is removed from and individual following a behaviour decreasing the probability of the behaviour being repeated.
What is the Skinner box?
The skinner box was created by Frederic skinner (1948). It would be used to demonstrate teaching animals things through operant conditioning. It used reinforcement and punishment.
What are the main features of operant conditioning?
Like classical conditioning operant conditioning results in a link forming between a behaviour and an event but in this case, the behaviour triggers the event which changes the likelihood of the behaviour being repeated.
Evaluation of Operant Conditioning: Research evidence
A strength of operant conditioning is that it is supported by many studies on animals and people and there are consistent findings regarding its ability to change behaviour. There is even modern evidence involved with the brain to back up the theory (Chase 2015)
Evaluation of Operant Conditioning: Application
Operant conditioning has many practical applications for example in education and bringing up children it is a way to encourage or discourage behaviour. It is even used in real life in places such as prisons as a response to crime.
Evaluation of Operant Conditioning: Weaknesses
A weakness of operant conditioning is that it can only explain how to encourage behaviours but not where they originate. It is therefore only a partial explanation for behaviour.
Define secondary reinforcement
Secondary reinforcement takes place when the thing that acts as a reinforcer has become associated with something of biological significance such as money buying food
Define Reinforcement schedule
A reinforcement schedule is a plan of how often and when reinforcement will be provided ie vary or keep constant the ratio of behaviour to reinforcer and the time interval between reinforcement.
