Problem 6 Flashcards
Operant conditioning
Refers to learning on the basis of the law effect
–> organisms “operate” on the environment in a way that causes an outcome to occur
Discriminative Stimulus S –> Response R –> Outcome O
Law of effect
States that behaviors followed by positives consequences are strengthened + more likely to be repeated
What is the main difference between operant + classical conditioning ?
- In classical conditioning, organisms experience an outcome (US) whether they perform the CR or not
- In operant conditioning the outcome (O) doesn’t occur if the response (R) isn’t performed
Free operant paradigm
Skinner
Refers to an operant conditioning paradigm in which the animal can operate the experimental apparatus “freely”
–> can respond to obtain a reinforcement when it chooses
Discrete trials paradigm
Thorndike
Refers the an operant conditioning paradigm in which the experimenter defines the beginning + end points
–> more controlled
Skinner box
Refers to a conditioning chamber in which lever press responses (R) while the light is switched on (S), are reinforced by the delivery of food (O)
Cumulative recorder
Device that records behavioral responses
–> height represents the number of responses that have been made up to the present time
Discriminative Stimuli (S)
Refer to stimuli that signal whether a particular response will lead to a particular outcome
ex.: light on –> food, therefore lever must be pressed;
light off –> no food
Shaping
Refers to training, that consists of a series of successive approximations, so that the desired response is learned
Response (R)
Refers to the sequence of movements needed to obtain a particular outcome
ex.: pressing a lever –> door opens (O)
Chaining
Organisms are gradually trained to execute complicated sequences of discrete responses
–> occurs gradually
ex.: learns A, then AB, then ABC
Reinforcer/
Positive outcome
Refers to a consequence of behavior that leads to an INCREASE of likelihood of that behavior in the future
ex.: food when hungry
Primary reinforcers
Refer to stimuli that have innate biological values to an organism
–> organisms will therefore repeat behaviors that provide access to these things
ex.: food, water, sex, sleep
Drive reduction theory
States that all learning reflects the innate, biological need to obtain primary reinforcers
–> one wants to reduce those drives
Why are primary reinforcers not always reinforcing ?
- A reinforcer of the same category can evoke a stronger response than another (Negative contrast)
ex. : will work harder for food they like, than for the ones one doesn’t like - Once the the reinforcer was satiating, further induction won’t be reinforcing
ex. : drinking until not thirsty anymore –> no more water needed
Secondary reinforcers
Refer to stimuli that have no biological value but that have been paired with primary reinforcers
ex.: money –> can be exchanged for food, sex etc
Token economy
Refers to an environment in which tokens can be exchanged for privileges
- -> function the same way as money does in the outside world
- -> used to modify behavior
ex.: prison, school
Negative contrast
Refers to a situation in which an organism will respond less strongly to a less-preferred reinforcer that is provided in place of an expected preferred reinforcer
–> it would have responded more strongly if the less-preferred reinforcer had ben provided all along
Why does the identity of the reinforcer matter ?
Organisms learn that a certain response (R) will result in a PARTICULAR outcome (O)
–> a switch in the outcome may produce changes in responding
Punisher/
Negative outcome
Refers to a consequence of behavior that leads to DECREASE the likelihood of the behavior occurring again in the future
–> opposite to reinforcer
Are punishments as effective as reinforcements ?
No,
the effects of punishment are irratic + unreliable
–> can sometimes result in paradoxical increases in punished behaviour
Which factors determine how effective the punishment will be ?
- Punishment might produce VARIATION IN BEHAVIOR, as the organism explores other possible responses
- Discriminative stimuli for punishment can ENCOURAGE CHEATING
ex. : one will resume speeding, in the absence of police cars - CONCURRENT REINFORCEMENT can undermine punishment
ex. : one will not stop talking in class, when behavior is punished by teacher but simult. reinforced by classmates - Punishment is most effective if a STRONG PUNISHER is used from the beginning
–> if not, one might become insensitive later to stronger ones
Differential reinforcement of alternative behaviors
DRA
Refers to a method to decrease the frequency of unwanted behaviors by instead reinforcing preferred alternate behaviors
–> works best if the rewarded behavior is compatible with the unwanted one
Reinforcement schedule
Refers to a schedule/rules determining how often reinforcement/outcomes is/are delivered in an experiment
When does learning occur the fastest ?
If there is no delay between the response + reinforcement
(Temporal congruity)
–> then the most recent behavior will be associated as a cause for the outcome
Self control/
Delayed gratification
Refers to an organisms willingness to forego a small immediate reward in favor of a larger future reward
Pre-commitment
Making a choice that is difficult to change later
–> will improve delayed gratification
Negative reinforcement
Behavior is reinforced because it causes something to be subtracted from the environment
ex.: headache (S) –> take aspirin (R) –> no more headache (O)
