Psych Explantsions Flashcards
What does Skinner’s theory of operant conditioning state?
Behaviours that are rewarded will be repeated.
What was the method used by Olds and Milner (1954) to reward rats?
Electrical stimulation of reward pathways in the brain.
What behaviour was observed in rats as a result of the reward method used by Olds and Milner?
Compulsive lever pressing.
In humans, what actions can be reinforced by the thrill of a win or near-miss in gambling?
Placing a bet, slotting a coin into a machine, scraping an immediate-win scratch card.
True or False: Losses in gambling inhibit the behaviour.
False.
What is continuous reinforcement as per Skinner’s experiments?
Rewarding the rats every time they pressed the lever.
What type of reinforcement schedule led to the highest response rate in Skinner’s experiments?
Variable ratio schedule.
Fill in the blank: In a variable ratio schedule, rewards are _______.
[unpredictable]
In Skinner’s variable ratio schedule, how often might a rat be rewarded?
Every fifth time, or sometimes after three, eight, or nine presses.
How does Skinner believe excessive gambling behaviour can be explained?
In the same way as the experiments with rats.
What is the role of anticipation in gambling, according to Skinner’s research?
Anticipation of a win learned through previous experiences.
What was the method used by Olds and Milner (1954) to reward rats?
Electrical stimulation of reward pathways in the brain.
What is continuous reinforcement as per Skinner’s experiments?
Rewarding the rats every time they pressed the lever.
What is a variable ratio reinforcement schedule?
A reinforcement schedule where rewards are given after an unpredictable number of responses
This type of schedule leads to high rates of response and is resistant to extinction.
Who demonstrated the effectiveness of variable ratio reinforcement schedules?
Skinner
Skinner’s experiments with operant conditioning showed the resilience of behaviors under this schedule.
What does it mean when a behavior is resistant to extinction?
The learned behavior persists even in the absence of reinforcement
This persistence indicates that the behavior has been strongly reinforced.
True or False: A variable ratio reinforcement schedule leads to rapid extinction of learned behaviors.
False
Variable ratio schedules are known for their resistance to extinction.
Fill in the blank: Skinner showed that the variable ratio reinforcement schedule is highly resistant to _______.
extinction
This characteristic is crucial for maintaining learned behaviors over time.
What can make the experience of reinforcement rewarding?
The unpredictability of the reinforcement schedule
This unpredictability can create excitement and engagement in the behavior.
What is state-dependent memory?
State-dependent memory refers to the idea that when we are in a certain emotional state, we retrieve memories from the last time we were in the same state.
How does being happy or sad affect memory retrieval?
When we are happy, it can lead us to retrieve memories of happy times, and when we are sad, it can trigger the retrieval of memories of sad times.
What is addictive memory (AM) according to Miller?
Addictive memory (AM) describes memories for past experiences relating to problem behavior in people with impulse control disorders.
What example does Miller provide for addictive memory?
For example, when a person with pyromania feels tense and anxious, they may remember that the last time they felt that way, they started a fire.
This recall triggers the sense of euphoria associated with fire-starting.
What are feeling-states?
Feeling-states may include sensations, thoughts, and feelings such as feelings of empowerment and control.
How can personal circumstances affect impulse control disorders?
If feelings of empowerment and control are typically missing in a person’s life, they may be more vulnerable to developing an impulse control disorder.
What does context-dependent memory mean in relation to impulse control disorders?
Context-dependent memory means specific people, objects, and events may trigger a feeling-state that generates compulsive behavior.
What happens when a person starts a fire related to their impulse control disorder?
When the person starts a fire, the sense of relief is triggered, strengthening the memory and becoming a more powerful motivator for future behavior.
What cycle can develop after engaging in compulsive behavior?
A sense of shame and anxiety may develop following the behavior, which then triggers the feeling-state again, creating a vicious cycle.
What does Miller believe about associations between feeling-states and behaviors?
Miller believes that strong associations formed between both positive and negative feeling-states and specific behaviors explain how these behaviors become habitual.
