Operant Conditioning Flashcards
BEHAVIOUR - Structure vs Function
Structure =
Function =
Behaviour analysis…
e.g.,
the form (topography) of behaviour products or consequences of the behaviour
emphasizes function
BEHAVIOUR - Response Classes:
A set of different responses that all…
A response can be…
Response classes are groups of responses…
e. g., putting on heater, putting on jacket, turn down AC =
e. g., scooter, bus, train
lead to the same consequence
discrete (e.g., muscle twitch) or continuous (e.g., playing a song on the piano)
with the same function
“getting warmer” response class (consequence)
“going to class” response class (consequence)
ANTECEDENT - discriminative stimulus
its presence signals that either the probability of the…
e.g., lock is dangling from one door when baby pulls on the door gets access to resources in the pantry.
test whether the lock dangling from one door is a discriminative stimulus by assessing what happens when baby performs the behaviour when it is present and absent
behaviour producing a consequence is increased (S+) or decreased (S-) relative to its absence.
antecedent : behaviour > consequence
lock dangling : pull on door > access to resources
lock no dangling : pull on door > no access to resources
DS because consequences are different
Examples:
(1) Some mornings Tom’s mum tells him to hurry up and eat his breakfast. It takes him ten minutes to eat his breakfast every day. Every day, when he has finished eating, his mum lets him watch TV for five minutes
(2) Before you have to give a presentation you feel anxious if the class is for your major but not for other classes. If you have worked hard you get a good mark but if you haven’t put the time in you do less well.
(3) The TVNZ on demand app sends you a notification when your favourite programme is available to stream. When you receive the notification, you stop whatever you are doing and watch your programme.
(1) Not a DS, the reinforcement of watching tv is available regardless of whether they have been told to hurry up
(2) Not a DS that signals the availability of getting a good mark
(3) Notification – DS for the behavior of watching tv program
Stimulus Classes
stimuli can be classified in classes by…
e.g., stop sign, red light -
even things that we think of as the “same” stimulus have..
stimuli that look different but…
their effect on behaviour
discriminative stimuli for stopping
different physical properties at different times
produce the same outcome
Discriminative Stimuli
S+ > SD: lock off cupboard > pull door > access to resources (reinforcer)
S- > SD: lock on cupboard > pull door > cupboard stays shut
availability of a reinforcer for a given behavior
Motivating Operations (antecedent)
Value-altering effect
Behaviour-altering effect
If MO increases the value of reinforcer =
If MO decreases the value of reinforcer =
alter the value of the reinforcer in 3-term contingency
alter the frequency of behaviour, which in the past has associated with getting a reinforcer
increases behaviour that in the past has been associated with getting a reinforcer
decreases behaviour that in the past has been associated with getting a reinforcer
The Different Effects of Establishing and Abolishing Operations Establishing Operation (EO) = Abolishing Operation (AO) =
MO Example: food deprivation
e.g., haven’t eaten > hungry > increases how reinforcing food is (increases value of food) but…does not change at the availability of food
↑ reinforcer effectiveness of a stimulus, ↑ behavior
e.g., food deprivation establishes food as an effective reinforcer
↓ Reinforcing effectiveness of a stimulus, ↓ behavior
e.g., reinforcing effectiveness of food is abolished after ingesting food
Motivating Operations vs Discriminative Stimuli
Similarities?
Differences?
precede behaviour, evoke operant behaviour
value/efficacy vs availability
Stimulus Control: Availability of the Reinforcer
S+ = MO (haven’t had anything to eat for 10 hrs) > SD (light on) > Response (press lever) > R (food)
S- = MO (haven’t had anything to eat for 10 hrs) > SD (light off) > Response (press lever) > Extinction (no food)
Food is reinforcing, but will only be delivered when SD is present
MO Control: Value of the Reinforcer
EO (haven’t had anything to eat for 10 hrs) > SD (light on) > Response (press lever) > R (food)
AO (just ate a large amt of food) > SD (light on) > Response (press lever) > food is delivered but not R+
Food is available, but is only reinforcing when he is food deprived
Expect rat to not respond because it no longer needs food (even though light shows food is available)
Stimulus Control: Availability of the Reinforcer
MO (alone for 10 hours) > SD (friend comes online on facebook) > Response (send message) > R (friend responds)
MO (alone for 10 hours) > SD (friend not logged on) > Response (send message) > Extinction (no response)
Responses is reinforcing, but will only be delivered when SD is present
Stimulus Control: Availability of the Reinforcer
EO (alone for 10 hours) > SD (friend comes online on facebook) > Response (send message) > R (friend responds)
AO (just had visitors and been dealing with facebook messages for 10 hours) > SD (friend comes online on facebook) > Response (send message) > friend replies but it is a not reinforcer
Social contact is available, but is only reinforcing when deprived
