Section B Flashcards
Behavior
- Actions that living organism do, including how they think, feel, and say
- Has an effect on the environment
- Larger set/class of responses that share physical dimensions/ functions
Response
- A single instance of behavior
- Measurable unit of analysis in the science of BA
Behavior vs Response Example
Behavior: Clapping
Response: A single clap
Response Class
- A group of behaviors that have the same function/operant
- Similar behaviors are strengthened or weakened collectively as a result of operant conditioning
- Response can have different topographies
Operant
- An instance of behavior that is initially spontaneous, however consequences will modify the behavior in the future… Essentially, a learned behavior.
- Response - Consequence Relationship
Operant Class is another term for…
- Response class
- Behavior with the same function
Is it a behavior? (5Qs)
- Is it a label?
- Is it a condition/state?
- Does it pass the mannequin test?
- Does it pass the mentalism test?
- Does it pass the operational definition test?
- Is it a label?
Happy, Sad, Interested —> Not a behavior
- Is it a condition/state?
Behavior vs Not Behavior
- Smiling vs Happy; Eating vs Hungry; Pacing vs Anxious; Aggressing vs Mean; Crying vs Depressed
- Pouring water on your own head vs Getting wet standing in the rain
- Taking money vs Receiving money
- Rocking your body side to side vs Getting blown over by the wind
- Does it pass the mannequin test?
- If a mannequin can do it, it’s not a behavior.
- If a mannequin cannot do it, it is a behavior
- Does it pass the mentalism test? (Common Terminology)
Mentalistic terminology such as:
- Experiencing anxiety
- Confusion
- Depression
- Mindfulness
- Does it pass the operational definition test?
If you can’t operationally define it, it’s not a behavior.
Operational vs No Operational
- Reporting negative feelings vs Experiencing negative feelings
- Sharing your thoughts vs Your thoughts
- Saying “I hear a bird” vs Hearing a bird
Repertoire
All the behaviors that you can do and a collection of skills you have learned that are related to a specific task or a specific setting
Environment
- Stimulus conditions that are internal and external to the individual
- Always changing
Stimulus
- An energy change that affects an organism through its receptor cells
- Internal or external events that affect the behavior of an individual
- 3 Types: Formal/physical features, Temporal and Functional
Body Systems Impacted by Stimuli
- Proprioceptors (Internal): Joints, tendons, muscles, etc., needed for posture, balance, and movement
- Interceptors (Internal): Organs - i.e. Headaches, hunger pains
- Exteroceptors: 5 Senses - Most often studied by BA
When do stimuli occur?
- Before a behavior (Antecedent)
- During a behavior (Consequence)
- After a behavior (Temporal locus of stimuli)
Stimulus Class
- A group of antecedent or simultaneous stimuli that tend to evoke / abate an operant / behavior / response class
- Stimuli may vary across physical dimensions
3 Types of Stimulus Classes
- Formal
- Temporal
- Function
- FTF: For The Fun
Formal Stimulus Class
- A type of a stimulus class
- Social and non-social stimuli that share physical features
- Social: Request from parents
- Non-Social: Bad smell, loud noise, etc.
Temporal Stimulus Class
- A type of a stimulus class
- Refers to the time
- Stimulus classes may not share commonalties topographically
- Before: Antecedents
- After: Consequences
- Antecedents and Consequences both determine what is learned.
Temporal: Antecedent
Exist or occur before a behavior of interest… Important for learning and motivation
Temporal: Consequences
Stimulus changes that occur after a behavior of interest… Important for future behavior
Functional Stimulus Class
- A type of a stimulus class
- The effect of the stimulus on the behavior
- A single stimulus can have multiple functions
- A stimulus class can be arbitrary