Unit 4 - Overview Of Behaviour Principles

Question 1

Applied Behaviour Analysis

Answer 1

The systematic application of behavioural principles to change behaviour

Question 2

Reinforcement paradigm

Answer 2

1. Any response followed by reinforcement increases

2. A reinforcer is a consequence that increases the rate of responding.

Question 3

Punishment paradign

Answer 3

1. Any response followed by punishment decreases

2. A punisher is a consequence that decreases the rate of responding.

Question 4

Skinner box

Answer 4

Basic operant chamber that consists of 4 Plexiglas walls with a light, lever (bar), and a food chute

Question 5

Deprivation

Answer 5

An antecedent that influences the saliency of the reinforcing consequences
(i.e. food has more reinforcing value when you are hungry than when you’re full)

Question 6

Establishing operation

Answer 6

An event (antecedent) that increases the potency/effectiveness of a reinforcer

• An EO is a type of motivating operation (MO)
  e. g. limiting the amount of food (deprivation) increases the potency of the food available when bar pressing
  e. g. if boss doesn’t provide social attention often but stops to thank you for working hard social attention may be more potent

Question 7

Abolishing operation

Answer 7

Decreases the potency/effectiveness of a reinforcer

E.g. satiation - refers to the potency of the reinforcer being lessened or loses its effectiveness

Question 8

Satiation

Answer 8

Potency of the reinforcer being lessened or losing its effectiveness
E.g. if a child is able to watch a preferred movie all the time, the movie may lose its reinforcing value for completing work tasks

Question 9

Reinforcement

Answer 9

A stimulus is delivered contingent upon a behaviour and increases the probability of the behaviour occurring again

Question 10

Shaping

Answer 10

A procedure in which positive reinforcement is provided for approximations of the behaviour

2 components:

1. differential reinforcement
2. successive approximations

Used to teach new behaviours or change topography of existing ones

Question 11

Differential reinforcement

Answer 11

Positive reinforcement is provided when specific behaviours to be increased occur (i.e. when the target behaviours occur), and not providing positive reinforcement when the behaviour does not occur, or other behaviours occur
–> Results in an increase in the target behaviour and extinction of other behaviours

Question 12

Successive approximation

Answer 12

Positive reinforcement is provided for behaviours that become increasingly similar to the target behaviour
*Reinforcing improvement

Question 13

Cumulative Record

Answer 13

Graph that depicts patterns of responding

Question 14

Slope (cumulative record)

Answer 14

Indicates the rate of responding

• steep slope = rapid rate
• gentle slope = slow rate of responding
• flat (horizontal) = no responding

Question 15

Extinction

Answer 15

Reinforcement is withheld for previously reinforced responses and the behaviour decreases

Characterized by 2 patterns of responding:

1. Extinction burst
2. Spontaneous recovery

Question 16

Extinction burst

Answer 16

• Occurs with extinction procedures
• An accelerated rate of responding is observed followed by a gradual reduction in responding to a level of no responding

Question 17

Spontaneous recovery

Answer 17

• Occurs with extinction procedures

- When the behaviour is extinguished but reoccurs

Question 18

Behavioural model

Answer 18

A-B-C

Question 19

Antecedent

Answer 19

• Discriminative stimuli that occur before the behaviour
• Indicate the probability of the consequences that follow the behaviour
• Learned through the consequences of the behaviour

Importance:

a) Prevents the occurrence of inappropriate behaviour
b) Sets the occasion for appropriate behaviour

Question 20

Behaviour

Answer 20

Overt (observable and measurable) behaviour that occurs

Question 21

Consequence

Answer 21

• Positive, negative, and neutral consequences that are presented contingent upon a behaviour
• Presented or removed after the behaviour occurs
• There is a functional relationship between the behaviour & consequence
• Defined by their effect on behaviour

Question 22

SD+ (plus)

Answer 22

Signals reinforcement is likely

Question 23

SD- (minus)

Answer 23

Signals punishment is likely

Question 24

SD (delta)

Answer 24

Signals that reinforcement is not likely

Question 25

Stimulus control

Answer 25

When behaviour becomes under control of the discriminative stimuli
–> When behaviour occurs under specific stimuli & does not occur under different stimuli

Question 26

Failure to discriminate

Answer 26

When behaviour does not come under control of the discriminative stimuli. This affects learning because we do not know what types of consequences follow and we are not able to increase or decrease our behaviours.

Question 27

Motivating operations (MOs)

Answer 27

Antecedent/environmental variables that increase/decrease the effectiveness of a reinforcer

2 types of MOs:

1. Establishing operations (EO) - increases reinforcer effectiveness
2. Abolishing operation (AO) - decreases reinforcer effectiveness

Question 28

Positive consequence

Answer 28

Consequences we like/work for

Question 29

Negative consequences

Answer 29

Consequences we don’t like

Question 30

Neutral consequences

Answer 30

Have no effect on behaviour

Question 31

Positive reinforcement

Answer 31

Procedure in which a positive consequence is presented following a behaviour and the behaviour increases
* Increases behaviour

Question 32

Primary reinforcer

Answer 32

Stimuli that are related to biological need, and that when delivered contingently, increase the target behaviour
e.g. food (edibles) & water

Question 33

Secondary reinforcer

Answer 33

Stimuli that have been paired with primary or secondary reinforcer that takes on reinforcing properties of its own
e.g. Money

Question 34

Non-contingent reinforcement (NCR)

Answer 34

Reinforcement is delivered randomly, i.e. not contingent upon the target behaviour

Question 35

Superstitious behaviour

Answer 35

Develops through NCR. Reinforcement strengthens the behaviour that immediately precedes it so NCR can strengthen behaviours unrelated to the target behaviour

Question 36

Type I punishment

Answer 36

Procedure in which a negative consequence is presented following a behaviour and the behaviour decreases

e. g. **
* Decreases behaviour

Question 37

Type II punishment

Answer 37

Procedure in which a positive consequence is removed following a behaviour and the behaviour decreases
* Decreases behaviour

Question 38

Negative reinforcement

Answer 38

Procedure in which an aversive stimulus/consequence is removed following a behaviour and the behaviour increases
* Increases behaviour

Question 39

Avoidance **

Answer 39

• Negative reinforcement paradigm
• You engage in a behaviour that allows you to avoid experiencing an aversive/negative consequence
  E.g. You see someone you don’t want to talk to and cross the street. You avoid interacting with the person and are negatively reinforced for crossing the street

Question 40

Escape **

Answer 40

• Negative reinforcement paradigm
  E.g. Present work parts for person to assemble & they throw on the floor, they are negatively reinforced for throwing (i.e. can escape work when there is no work on the table)

Question 41

Golden Rule for explaining behaviour

Answer 41

For every behaviour:

Magnitude of the response vs magnitude of the consequence (sometimes it’s worth it)

Question 42

Basic Assumptions of behaviour analysis

Answer 42

1. The majority of behaviours exhibited are learned
2. Learning occurs through the interaction with the environment
3. Behaviour is orderly. Changes occur as a result of consequences

Question 43

Problems with punishment procedures

Answer 43

1. Punishment only tells you what not to do. It doesn’t tell you what to do to receive reinforcement
2. Punishment may produce emotional by-products & increase aggression
3. Engaging in a behaviour that usually results in punishment without receiving punishment may result in negative reinforcement paradigm