Reading Notes 7 Flashcards
What is reinforcement?
The process by which consequences make responding more likely
What is punishment?
The process by which consequences make responding less likely
Much o/ our behavior is under aversive control by the _________ around us
Environment
Give an example o/ aversive control (vine example)
Girl scares her dad while doing the dishes
Aversive stimulus = Getting hit in the face by the dish
What is aversive stimuli?
Events that orgs. avoid or escape
Why does behavior occur?
We are trying to avoid bad things from happening
T/F: We deliver punishment
False, we deliver PUNISHERS
- A punisher is a stimulus
T/F: We deliver punishment
False, we deliver PUNISHERS
- A punisher is a stimulus
_______ is the procedure, ______ is a stimulus.
Punishment, punisher
What is a reprimand?
Admonishment, scolding, or censure
Think about the highlighted table from your notes. What does the data teach you?
- Children tend to have less problematic behavior after a parent reprimands
- However, the parent can make behavior stop but has to keep delivering reprimands
- Therefore, we would still prefer that parents use other means to get problematic behavior to stop.
What is punishment?
The decrease in behavior that we observe with contingent presentation of a punisher, or removal o/ a reinforcer
T/F: We don’t punish or reinforce people
True, we always need to state what was punished (state response explicitly)
How do you distinguish whether behavior is SR or Pun?
Look at the behavior when determining whether reinforcement or reinforcement!
- Punishment has OPPOSITE effect o/ reinforcement; they’re symmetrical
You are PRESENTED a stimulus following behavior. The effect INCREASES that behavior. Is this a reinforcer or punisher? What kind?
(+) Reinforcer
You are PRESENTED a stimulus following behavior. The effect DECREASES that behavior. Is this a reinforcer or punisher? What kind?
(+) Punisher
A stimulus is REMOVED following a certain behavior. The effect INCREASES that behavior. Is this a reinforcer or punisher? What kind?
(-) Reinforcer
A stimulus is REMOVED following a certain behavior. The effect DECREASES that behavior. Is this a reinforcer or punisher? What kind?
(-) Punisher
What is positive punishment?
Contingent presentation of a stimulus that results in a decrease in the future probability o/ that response.
- Behavior ↓
What is negative punishment?
Contingent removal of a stimulus that results in a decrease in the future probability o/ that response
- Behavior ↓
T/F: Positive and negative equate to “good” and “bad.”
False
Positive equates to:
Introduction (presentation) of a stimulus into the environment
Negative equates to:
Removal of a stimulus from the environment
To determine whether we have a reinforcer or a punisher, we must look to the effect on _____behavior.
Future
T/F: The effects of punishment, like reinforcement, are generally, temporary.
True
Extinction is what type of process?
Gradual
- Extinction reduces behavior bc reinforcers are withheld
Punishment is what type of process?
Rapid
- Punishment reduces behavior bc punishers are presented OR reinforcers are withdrawn contingent on behavior
T/F: Behavior gets faster when the response is punished, but recovers quickly when punishment is withdrawn.
False, Behavior SLOWS when response is punished
What does the example of potty training teach you about reinforcers?
Reinforcers never go away, they can change
What are the 3 variables influence the effectiveness of punishment?
- Immediacy
- Deliver the punisher immediately - Manner of Introduction
- Punishing stimuli should be intense as ethically humane - Motivation to respond
- Punishment is more effective when the motivation to engage in the punished response is lowest
Describe the study where pigeons were exposed to intermittent food for key pecking
Azrin et al. (1963)
- Pigeons received an electric shock for every 100th key peck, but the pigeons continued to earn food intermittently
- They got an electric shock for every 10th key peck, but they continued to earn food intermittently
- Motivation was altered by limiting the amt. o/ food the pigeons were given
When was the electric shock in the pigeon experiment a punisher? When did it change, and what did it change to?
Shock as a punisher- when free-feeding (FF) body weight was 60%
Shock as DEPRIVATION- when free-feeding (FF) body weight was 85%
What is negative reinforcement?
When the removal, prevention, or attenuation of some stimulus results in an increase in the future probability of the response
- e.g. Putting on sunscreen when out in the sun
What is a positive reinforcer?
Any event that increases operant behavior by its removal, prevention, or attenuation
What are the two types of SR?
- Escape- when an aversive stimulus is present, and a response terminates that stimulus.
- e.g. Upset stomach- medicine after - Avoidance- the aversive stimulus is never present
- e.g. Upset stomach- medicine prior
What is the difference between escape avoidance?
Avoidance- aversive stimulus is never present
Escape- aversive stimulus is present
What are the 2 types of avoidance?
- Discriminated avoidance- A warning signal precedes the aversive stimulus
- e.g. Talking to your ex. A friend tells you your ex will be at the party tonight. You don’t go to party. You avoid seeing your ex. - Non-discriminated avoidance- there are no warning signals that precede the aversive stimulus.
- e.g. Computer freezes
What does aversive control capture?
a. Negative reinforcement
b. Negative punishment
c. Positive punishment
What is the difference between discriminated avoidance and non-discriminated avoidance?
Discriminated- there’s a warning sign
Non-discriminated- there are no warning signals
