Unit 5 Terms Flashcards
(29 cards)
Activity reinforcer.
A reinforcer that is related to access to desired actions, such as playing games, leisure time, or listening to music.
Applied behavior analysis
The science in which tactics derived from the principles of behavior are applied to improve socially significant behavior, and experimentation is used to identify the variables responsible for the improvement of behavior.
Automatic reinforcement
Reinforcement that occurs independent of the social mediation of others (for example, scratching an insect bit relieves the itch).
Aversive stimulus
A stimulus change or condition that functions to evoke a behavior that has terminated it in the past, as a punisher when presented following behavior, and/or as a reinforcer when withdrawn following behavior.
Avoidance behavior
A behavior that prevents an aversive event.
Avoidance contingency
A contingency in which a response prevents or postpones the presentation of a stimulus.
Behavior change tactic
A technologically consistent behavior modification method that possesses sufficient generality across subjects, settings, and/or behaviors to warrant its codification and dissemination.
Behaviorism
The philosophy of a science of behavior.
Consequence
A stimulus change that follows a behavior of interest.
Continuous reinforcement
A schedule of reinforcement in which each instance of the behavior is followed by the reinforcer.
Edible reinforcer
A reinforcer that can be eaten, such as a sip of a preferred drink or a bite of preferred food.
Escape behavior
Behavior that results in the termination of an aversive stimulus.
Escape contingency
A contingency in which a response terminates (produces escape from) an ongoing stimulus.
Experimental analysis of behavior
A natural science approach to the study of behavior as a subject matter in its own right founded by B.F. Skinner. Its methodological features include rate of response as a basic dependent variable, repeated or continuous measurement of clearly defined response classes, within-subject experimental comparisons instead of group design, visual analysis of graphed data instead of statistical inference, and an emphasis on describing functional relations between behavior and controlling variables in the environment over formal theory testing.
Generalized conditioned reinforcer
A conditioned reinforcer that- as a result of having been paired with many other reinforcers- does not depend on an establishing operation or any particular form of reinforcement for its effectiveness.
Negative reinforcement
A type of reinforcement in which the occurrence of the behavior is followed by the removal or avoidance of an aversive stimulus.
Negative reinforcer
A stimulus whose termination or reduction in intensity functions as reinforcement.
Positive reinforcement
A type of reinforcement in which, contingent on the behavior, a stimulus or event is presented and the probability of the behavior increases in the future.
Positive reinforcer
A stimulus that will increase the future probability of a behavior when the stimulus is delivered contingent on the occurrence of the behavior.
Principle of behavior
A statement describing a functional relation between behavior and one or more of its controlling variables the generality across organisms, species, settings, behavior, and time.
Reinforcement
Occurs when a stimulus change immediately follows a response and increases the future frequency of that type of behavior in similar conditions.
Reinforcer
The stimulus that follows the behavior and increase the occurrence of the behavior in the future.
Response class
A group of responses of varying typography, all of which produce the same effect on the environment.
Social reinforcer
A socially mediated reinforcer, such as a physical contact, proximity, attention, or praise.
