reinforcement and biology of reinforcement

Question 1

Definition of concept of reinforcement and the biology of reinforcement

Answer 1

Reinforcement schedules are frameworks used in operant conditioning to determine how and when reinforcements are given. The biology of reinforcement provides a bases to understanding reinforcement and the biological mechanisms influencing it

Question 2

The importance of reinforcement

Answer 2

Reinforcement is a fundamental aspect & behaviourism, critical for shaping and maintaining behaviours/ it involues using stimuli to increase the likelihood & a behaviour reoccurring

Question 3

Intermittent reinforcement schedules

Answer 3

Fixed ratio(FR)
Variable ratio (VR)
Fixed interval (FI)
Variable interval (VI)

Question 4

Fixed ratio schedule of reinforcement

Answer 4

Reinforcement occurs after a set number of responses; resulting in a post reinforcement pause before behaviour re occurs

Question 5

Variable ratio schedule of reinforcement

Answer 5

Reinforcement occurs after a a varying number of responses; leading to high, steady responses with grater resistance to extinction (Pierce & Cheney, 2017)

Question 6

Fixed interval schedule of reinforcement

Answer 6

Reinforcement after a fixed amount of time; usually results in a scalloped response pattern (Powell et al., 2017)

Question 7

Variable interval schedule of reinforcement

Answer 7

Reinforcement occurs after varying intervals; resulting in steady, moderate responses with increased resistance to extinction as the subject doesn’t rely on time cues (De Houwer & Hughes, 2018)

Question 8

Biological mechanisms/ systems in reinforcement

Answer 8

Medial forebrain bundle (MFB)
Mesolimbic reinforcement system: tegmentostraital pathway, nigrostriatal pathway, dopaminergic control, nucleas accumbens

Question 9

Medial forebrain bundle (MFB) and reinforcement

Answer 9

Highly reinforcing/ motivates behaviour/ stimulated by reinforcers/ enhanced by deprivation

Question 10

evaluation: strengths:

Answer 10

• strong scientific evidence: studies by (Valenstien & Beer, 1964) (Shultz, 1998) (Wise & Rompre, 1989)
• effective in predicting behavoiral patterns and provides framework for modifying behaviours and creating interventions
• biological insights to reinforcement with clear understating of brain systems and neurotransmitters involved in reinforcement.

Question 11

Evaluation: limitations:

Answer 11

• reinforcement schedules may overlook individual differences in motivation or responses to different reinforcements.
• overemphasis of animal studies/ not fully translatable to human behaviour and may oversimplify human behaviour
• complicity of biological mechanisms make it challenging to predict behaviours

Question 12

applications

Answer 12

• education/ workplace: token economy programs or workplace incentives to reinforce desirable behaviours
• therapeutic settings: behavior modification programs used to shape behaviours
  Addiction treatment: addressing dopaminergic controls to reduce undesirable behavoirs while reinforcing desirable behaviours.

Question 13

how does the mesolimbic system reinforce behaviours?

Answer 13

mesolimbic system is a rewards system and it can show insight into drug addiction and dopamine interaction- cociane and opiates can increase dopamine activity in the brain increasing rewards associated with drug intake