Operant Learning

Question 1

Reinforcement

Answer 1

Some stimulus change immediately follows a response resulting in strengthening or maintenance of that response class under similar conditions in the future.

Question 2

Requirements of Reinforcement

Answer 2

Behavior, consequence, effect on behavior, and similar conditions

Question 3

2 Criteria of Reinforcement (Catania’s Criteria)

Answer 3

1. Response must produce a consequence

2. Response occurs more often than when it doesn’t produce that consequence

Question 4

Why is reinforcement NOT circular reasoning?

Answer 4

We can remove the reinforcer from the equation to show that what we say is the reinforcer IS actually a reinforcer; for example, we can ask, “Why is the lever pressed?”. “Because food is a reinforcer.” “How do you know food is a reinforcer?” “Because the lever is pressed.” This is circular reasoning, but if we remove the food and see no lever presses, we know that food is, in fact, a reinforcer.

Question 5

Four-term Contingency

Answer 5

A->B->C, A is the antecedent, B is the behavior, and C is the consequence. Wherein C acts upon A&B and the motivating operation (MO) acts upon B&C.

Question 6

What is the Behavior Perspective?

Answer 6

Wanting something means 2 things:

1. The occurence of what is wanted would function as a reinforcer
2. Any behavior that obtained the reinforcer in the past will be strong at that moment

Question 7

SD:R->Sr+

Answer 7

The descriminitive stimulus sets the occasion for an operant class which produces reinforcement. An MO can act upon the whole thing.

Question 8

What are the two defining effects of motivating operations?

Answer 8

Value-altering effects and behavior-altering effects.

Question 9

What are value-altering effects?

Answer 9

Wherein MO’s alter the current reinforcing or punishing effectiveness of some conditions:

1. Reinforcer establishing effect- increase in reinforcing effectiveness
2. Reinforcer abolishing effect- decrease in reinforcing effectiveness

Question 10

What are behavior-altering effects?

Answer 10

Wherein MO’s alter the current strength of behavior that have produced the condition related to the MO in the past:

1. Evocative effect- increase in current frequency of all relevant behavior
2. Abative effect- decrease in current frequency of all relevant behavior

Question 11

Give an example of the two defining effects of MO’s.

Answer 11

Food example:
Reinforcer establishing effect: Food deprivation
Reinforcer abolishing effect: Satiation
Evocative effect: Increase in behavior that has previously produced food
Abative effect: Decrease in behavior that has previously produced food

Question 12

What are inherent reinforcers?

Answer 12

Food, water, sex, and temperature

Question 13

Avoidance vs. Escape

Answer 13

Escape is behavior that removes an aversive condition, avoidance is behavior that prevents contact with an aversive condition. THERE IS NO AVOIDANCE, ONLY ESCAPE

Question 14

Define problem

Answer 14

A problem exists when reinforcement is available but the behavior to produce it is not

Question 15

What is the law of effect?

Answer 15

The relationship between behavior and its consequences: Behavior is a function of its consequences.

Question 16

What is the Premack principle?

Answer 16

High-probability behavior influences low-probability behavior