Unit VI: Learning Module 27 and 28 Flashcards
Operant conditioning
a type of learning in which a behavior becomes more likely to occur if followed by a reinforcer or less likely to occur if followed by a punisher
Operant behavior
behavior that operates on the environment to produce rewarding or punishing stimuli
Law of effect
Thorndikes’ principal that behaviors followed by favorable consequences are more likely to occur than those with unfavorable consequences
reinforcement
In behavior conditioning, any event that strengthens the behavior it follows
Shaping
an operant conditioning procedure in which reinforcers guide behavior toward closer and closer approximations of desired behavior
Discrimitive stimulus
a stimulus that elicits a response after association with reinforcement
negative reinforcement
strengthens a response by reducing or removing something negative
Positive reinforcement
increasing behaviors by presenting positive reinforcements
Primary reinforcers
an innately reinforcing stimulus such as one that satisfies a biological need
conditioned reinforcers
a stimulus that gains it’s reinforcing power through its association with the primary reinforcer
fixed ratio schedules
reinforcement behaviors after a set number of responses
Fixed interval schedule
reinforce behavior after set time periods
reinforcement schedules
a pattern that defines how often a desired response will be reinforced
continuous reinforcement
reinforcing the desired response every time it occurs
intermittent reinforcement schedules
reinforcing response only part of the time; results in slower aquisition of response but much greater resistance to extinction
