OPERANT CONDITIONING / TYPES OF CONSEQUENCES/ PUNISHMENTS (+/-) / PROCESSES OC

Question 1

DEFINITION: OPERANT CONDITIONING

EXAMPLE: Skinner box experiment

• Animal explored the box randomly
• Unintentionally pulls the lever down causing a food pellet to drop
• Learns through OC to push the lever for food (Positive Reinforcement)

Answer 1

• Also known as instrumental learning
• Based on learning through consequences
• Repeat a behaviour for a desirable outcome
• Not repeating a specific behaviour that has an undesirable outcome.

Question 2

THREE PHASE MODEL OF OPERANT CONDITIONING

DBC where the D = Discriminative Stimulus

Answer 2

ABC or DBC

A = Antecedent Stimulus

• Someone or something existing or happening before the behaviour occurs
• EXAMPLE: Cues, Precursor

B = Behaviour
- Voluntary response to the antecedent stimulus where the learner plays an active role

C = Consequence

• A result or effect that comes after the voluntary behaviour
• This can be either reinforcement or punishment

Question 3

TYPES OF CONSEQUENCES

Answer 3

REINFORCERS (+/-)
- Strengthen or increase the LIKELIHOOD of a response occurring again

PUNISHERS (+/-)
- Weaken or decrease the LIKELIHOOD of a response occurring again

• POSITIVE: Something has been added to the situation
• NEGATIVE: Something has been TAKEN AWAY (Response cost) / subtracted from the situation.

Question 4

EFFECTIVENESS OF PUNISHMENT (STRENGTH)

T. C. I.

Answer 4

TIME
- More likely to lead to a REDUCTION in behaviour if it IMMEDIATELY follows the behaviour
POOR example: Prison

CONSISTENCY

• Punishments achieve greater results when they are CONSISTENTLY applied
• EXAMPLE: driving of the speed limit even after receiving a speeding ticket

INTENSITY

• The punishment must ‘fit the crime’
• MUST be proportionate (Can’t be too harsh = Avoidance/fear as well as NOT harsh = won’t act as a deterrent

Question 5

LIMITATIONS OF PUNISHMENT

Answer 5

• Behaviour changing after the result of a punishment are often temporary
• Doesn’t actually offer any information about more appropriate or desired behaviors (Not learning what they SHOULD be doing)
• Punishments can also have unintended and undesirable consequences (Act as a reinforcer as well as leading to aggressive behaviour)

Question 6

PROCESSES IN OPERANT CONDITIONING

E. SR. SG. SD.

Answer 6

OPERANT EXTINCTION
- Gradual decrease of a response/behaviour OVERTIME when reinforcement stops or is not given

OPERANT SPONTANEOUS RECOVERY
- The reappearance of a response/behaviour after its apparent extinction

STIMULUS GENERALISATION
- The tendency for a stimulus (A) to PRODUCE a similar response for which reinforcement is obtained

STIMULUS DISCRIMINATION

• Ability to perceive the difference between two stimuli
• Correctly responding to a stimulus for which REINFORCEMENT is obtained