Operant Conditioning Flashcards

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1
Q

Define Operant Conditioning

A

Learning through reinforcement.

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2
Q

Who created the theory?

A

B.F.Skinner (1938)

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3
Q

Define Positive Reinforcement

A

When a behaviour cause a desirable outcome, you are more likely to repeat it.

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4
Q

Define Negative Reinforcement

A

When a behaviour results in the removal of something unpleasant, you are more likely to repeat it.

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5
Q

Define Punishment

A

Where a behaviour results in an undesirable outcome, you are unlikely to repeat it.

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6
Q

What was Skinner’s experiment?

A
  • Skinner box = cage of stimuli including a food dispenser and electric floor.
  • rat placed in box: accidentally hits lever for food dispenser and is rewarded with a piece of food; rat learns the lever results in food (PR)
  • rat placed in box: electric floor is turned on, rat accidentally hits lever which stops the current; rat learns lever stops the eclectic shock (NR)
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7
Q

Strengths of Operant Conditioning

A
  • Skinner’s experiment is laboratory based so high internal validity
  • used in schools to modify behaviours of students
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8
Q

Weaknesses of Operant Conditioning

A
  • cannot be realistically generalised as rats are a different species
  • humans have free will so may not react in the same way
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