Topics 4-6

Question 1

Who established reinforcement?

Answer 1

Skinner

Question 2

Explain reinforcement

Answer 2

a behaviour occurs –> positive/negative consequence –> behaviour is strengthened

Question 3

What is operant behaviour?

Answer 3

behaviour that is strengthened through reinforcement

Question 4

Distinguish between positive and negative reinforcement

Answer 4

Both - increase a behaviour

Positive - behaviour is followed by an addition of a stimulus (reinforcer)

Negative - behaviour is followed by the removal of an aversive stimulus

Question 5

Explain the Premack Principle

Answer 5

a high frequency response is paired with a low frequency response to increase the frequency of the low frequency response

Question 6

Explain manifestation in terms of reinforcement

Answer 6

performing a less pleasurable activity as doing so will enable them to perform a more pleasurable activity

Question 7

Distinguish between escape and avoidance behaviours

Give an example

Answer 7

Escape - behaviour results in the termination of an aversive stimulus - behaviour is strengthened
- e.g., stepping on hot concrete - escape behaviour is to step onto grass

Avoidance - behaviour results in the prevention of the aversive stimulus - behaviour is strengthened
- e.g., stepping on hot concrete - avoidance behaviour is to wear shoes next time

Question 8

Distinguish between unconditioned and conditioned reinforcers

Answer 8

Unconditioned - biologically determined - food, warmth, sexual contact, escape from cold, pain, etc.

Conditioned - neutral stimulus + established reinforcer = reinforcer (previously neutral)

Question 9

What factors influence reinforcement? (5)

Answer 9

• immediacy
• consistency/contingency
• establishing operations
• individual differences
• intensity of stimulus

Question 10

Explain the factor of establishing operations

Give a example

Answer 10

some events can make a particular consequence more reinforcing than others

e.g., water is a more powerful reinforcer for a thirsty person

Question 11

Distinguish between continuous and intermittent reinforcement

Answer 11

Continuous - each response is followed by the reinforcer

Intermittent - not every response is followed by the reinforcer

Question 12

Distinguish between:
- fixed ratio schedules
- fixed interval schedules
- variable ratio schedules
- variable interval schedules

Answer 12

FRS - reinforcer after X number of responses - high rate of response - post reinforcement pause

FIS - reinforcer for first response after X amount of time - low rate of responses - increases at the end

VRS - reinforcer after X number of responses on average - high rate - no post reinforcement pause

VIS - reinforcer for the first response after X amount of time on average - low but steady rate of behaviour

Question 13

What is extinction?

Answer 13

weakening and ending a behaviour by removing a reinforcer

Question 14

What is an extinction burst? (3)

Answer 14

when a reinforcer is taken away 3 things may happen initially:

• increase in frequency, duration, or intensity of the behaviour
• increase in new behaviours
• increase in emotional or aggressive behaviours

Question 15

What is spontaneous recovery? (2)
What happens when it is reinforced?

Answer 15

• the behaviour occurs again sometime after it was eliminated through extinction
• it is done in an attempt to elicit the reinforcer
• if the reinforcer is given it will increase the resistance to extinction

Question 16

Distinguish between the extinction of
- a positively reinforced behaviour
- a negatively reinforced behaviour

Answer 16

• positive reinforcer is NOT given following the behaviour
• negative reinforcer is NOT REMOVED (re-introduced) following the behaviour

Question 17

What 2 factors influence extinction?

Answer 17

• schedule of reinforcement prior to extinction - if continuous, extinction is easier
• occurrence of reinforcement due to spontaneous recovery - extinction is harder

Question 18

What is punishment?

Answer 18

when a behaviour is followed by a consequence, decreasing the occurrence of the behaviour

Question 19

Distinguish between positive and negative punishment

Answer 19

BOTH: weaken a behaviour

• positive: an aversive stimulus is applied after a behaviour
• negative: a reinforcer is removed after a behaviour

Question 20

Distinguish between reinforcers and punishers (4)

Answer 20

Reinforcers:
- applied - increases behaviour - positive reinforcement
- removed - decreases behaviour - negative punishment

Punisher:
- applied - decreases behaviour - positive punishment
- removed - negative reinforcement

Question 21

Distinguish between unconditioned and conditioned punishers

Give an example for each

Answer 21

unconditioned - require no conditioning to be effective - have biological important
e.g., painful stimuli

conditioned - previously neutral stimulus is paired with a punisher and becomes a punisher itself
e.g., facial expressions of disapproval

Question 22

What factors influence punishment? (5)

Answer 22

• immediacy
• contingency
• establishing operations
• intensity
• individual differences