Unit 5 Terms

Question 1

Activity reinforcer.

Answer 1

A reinforcer that is related to access to desired actions, such as playing games, leisure time, or listening to music.

Question 2

Applied behavior analysis

Answer 2

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.

Question 3

Automatic reinforcement

Answer 3

Reinforcement that occurs independent of the social mediation of others (for example, scratching an insect bit relieves the itch).

Question 4

Aversive stimulus

Answer 4

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that has terminated it in the past, as a punisher when presented following behavior, and/or as a reinforcer when withdrawn following behavior.

Question 5

Avoidance behavior

Answer 5

A behavior that prevents an aversive event.

Question 6

Avoidance contingency

Answer 6

A contingency in which a response prevents or postpones the presentation of a stimulus.

Question 7

Behavior change tactic

Answer 7

A technologically consistent behavior modification method that possesses sufficient generality across subjects, settings, and/or behaviors to warrant its codification and dissemination.

Question 8

Behaviorism

Answer 8

The philosophy of a science of behavior.

Question 9

Consequence

Answer 9

A stimulus change that follows a behavior of interest.

Question 10

Continuous reinforcement

Answer 10

A schedule of reinforcement in which each instance of the behavior is followed by the reinforcer.

Question 11

Edible reinforcer

Answer 11

A reinforcer that can be eaten, such as a sip of a preferred drink or a bite of preferred food.

Question 12

Escape behavior

Answer 12

Behavior that results in the termination of an aversive stimulus.

Question 13

Escape contingency

Answer 13

A contingency in which a response terminates (produces escape from) an ongoing stimulus.

Question 14

Experimental analysis of behavior

Answer 14

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.

Question 15

Generalized conditioned reinforcer

Answer 15

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.

Question 16

Negative reinforcement

Answer 16

A type of reinforcement in which the occurrence of the behavior is followed by the removal or avoidance of an aversive stimulus.

Question 17

Negative reinforcer

Answer 17

A stimulus whose termination or reduction in intensity functions as reinforcement.

Question 18

Positive reinforcement

Answer 18

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.

Question 19

Positive reinforcer

Answer 19

A stimulus that will increase the future probability of a behavior when the stimulus is delivered contingent on the occurrence of the behavior.

Question 20

Principle of behavior

Answer 20

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.

Question 21

Reinforcement

Answer 21

Occurs when a stimulus change immediately follows a response and increases the future frequency of that type of behavior in similar conditions.

Question 22

Reinforcer

Answer 22

The stimulus that follows the behavior and increase the occurrence of the behavior in the future.

Question 23

Response class

Answer 23

A group of responses of varying typography, all of which produce the same effect on the environment.

Question 24

Social reinforcer

Answer 24

A socially mediated reinforcer, such as a physical contact, proximity, attention, or praise.

Question 25

Stimulus

Answer 25

An environmental event that can be detected by one of the senses.

Question 26

Stimulus class

Answer 26

A group of stimuli that all have the same functional effect on a particular behavior. For example, each stimulus in a stimulus class may function as a discriminative stimulus for a particular behavior.

Question 27

Tangible reinforcer

Answer 27

A reinforcer that is related to access to physical items, such as stickers, trinkets, school materials, trading cards, or small toys.

Question 28

Three-term contingency

Answer 28

The antecedent that is present when the behavior occurs, the behavior, and the reinforcing consequence.

Question 29

Token

Answer 29

An object that is awarded contingent on appropriate behavior and serves as the medium of exchange for backup reinforcers.