operant conditioning Flashcards
what does operant conditioning state?
we learn through reinforcement
what is the law of effect?
if the result of a behaviour is good it will be repeated, if the result of a behaviour is negative it is less likely to be repeated
what is trial and error learning?
an organism’t attempts to learn or solve a problem by trying alternative possibilities until a correct solution or desired outcome is achieved
what is positive reinforcement?
increases likelihood of a response by providing pleasant consequences for it
what is positive punishment?
being given something negative e.g. shouted at-decreases chances of it happening again
what is negative punishment?
having something removed e.g. phone confiscated-decreases chance of behaviour happening again
what is negative reinforcement?
removing or providing an escape from unpleasant consequences-increases likelihood of a response
what is shaping?
behaviour doesn’t just occur 100% correct the first time -needs to be shaped ‘the method of successive approximations’
what is primary reinforcers?
used to satisfy a basic survival need e.g. food,sex,water
what is secondary reinforcers?
only fulfilling because they associated with a primary reinforcer e.g.money that is used for food
what is continuous reinforcement?
reinforce every time you do something
what is partial reinforcement?
you are reinforced after a certain period of time/after so many events
what is fixed interval?
the reward of a first correct response only after a set interval
what is a variable interval?
the reward time varies after the first correct response
what is fixed ratio?
where a response is reinforced only after a specified number of responses
