Physiological and Cognitive

Question 1

describe applying operant conditioning in education

Answer 1

teaching machines (Skinner) and computer-assisted instruction using immediate feedback and self-paced learning

Question 2

define token economies

Answer 2

desired behavior reinforced with tokens, exchangeable for rewards

Question 3

define SIBIS

Answer 3

self injurious behavior inhibiting system
*aversive shock therapy, they get shocked when they engage in a behavior, if they do not stop, the shock will increase

Question 4

define latent learning

Answer 4

*cognition in OC
*learning that occurs at Time A, but is not demonstrated until Time B
*you can learn w/o explicit consequence

Question 5

what role does the reinforcer play in learning? (latent learning)

Answer 5

motivates you to show what you’ve learned

Question 6

describe extrinsic motivators. provide an example

Answer 6

*better with short term goals
ex: getting paid to quit smoking v. not
paid: quick to quit, but don’t last, eventually regress

Question 7

describe intrinsic motivators. provide an example

Answer 7

*better with long-term behavioral changes
ex: getting paid to quit smoking v. not
non-paid: longer to quit, but less likely to regress

Question 8

define over-justification

Answer 8

effect of reinforcing behavior one already likes to do
ex: dating someone because you like them. then that person gives you extrinsic benefits. now you’re dating them because of the things they give you

Question 9

define instinctive drift

Answer 9

*physiological constraints
a conditioned operant response ‘drifts back’ toward instinctive drift
ex: blowing puff into eye, will instinctually blink

Question 10

describe the reward pathway

Answer 10

*the way we learn through reinforcement
*people continue to do behaviors that punishing because of the effect

Question 11

describe the role of dopamine in the reward pathway

Answer 11

*dopamine tells the brain when a reward is salient, better than expected, and to pay attention to the reward b/c might be better for survival
*less dopamine is released when a reward is less than expected
*more about drug wanting, than liking

Question 12

describe the effect of drugs on the reward pathway

Answer 12

*drugs fuel the brain and become viewed as necessary for survival
ex: 1 hit of crystal meth = 1250 orgasms = 2500 cheeseburgers
*is why drug addicts be like consequences be damned

Question 13

describe the stimulus based theory

Answer 13

there is some quality that this stimulus that is in and of itself reinforcing (look, taste, etc.)
- innately reinforcing

Question 14

describe the response based theory

Answer 14

something that allows an organism to engage in a behavior over and over again
ex: the repetitive motion of eating carrots and dip

Question 15

True or False: Stimulus and Response based theory are at work separately, never together

Answer 15

False. both probably at work

Question 16

describe Hull’s Drive Reduction Hypothesis

Answer 16

organisms have innate drives to obtain primary reinforcers and that learning is driven by the biological need to reduce those drives
*organism will engage in behavior to satisfy drive
*organism will stop engaging in behavior once drive is satisfied

Question 17

True or False: if you’re in balance (homeostasis), not motivated to do anything like any behavior

Answer 17

False. Know this by being alive

Question 18

describe the problems with Hull’s theory

Answer 18

1. primary reinforcers are not always reinforcing. if you’re thirsty, once you finish drinking, more water is not reinforcing
2. not all reinforcers reduce drives. (ex. secondary reinforcers)

Question 19

are all stimuli that reduce drives reinforcing? (problems with Hull)

Answer 19

technically yes. If you’re given a choice between this or that, you’ll choose the one you prefer (ex. you’re hungry, but given food that you hate, still won’t eat it unless absolutely have to

Question 20

what are the 3 experiments that disprove Hull’s theory?

Answer 20

1. rats drink milk (learned fastest): get to engage in the behavior of drinking and the innate benefits of consuming milk
2. milk tube (faster): didn’t get to engage in the behavior of actually drinking
3. drink water (slowest): milk has flavor & calories. water doesn’t. stimulus based, preference for milk.

Question 21

describe the optimal arousal theory

Answer 21

*humans want optimal arousal level, that’s what’s reinforcing
*stimulus that brings person to optimal level of arousal is reinforcing

Question 22

what level of arousal would you want someone to be in for a complex activity?

Answer 22

low level of arousal, high performance level
*be calm, surgeon

Question 23

what level of arousal would you want someone to be in for an easy activity?

Answer 23

high level of arousal, high performance level

Question 24

define the Premack principle

Answer 24

the theory that the opportunity to perform a highly frequent behavior can reinforce a less frequent behavior.