Week 6: Operant Conditioning: Introduction Flashcards
Law of Effect
Behaviours leading to a satisfying state of affairs are strengthened while behaviours leading to an unsatisfying or annoying state of affairs are weakened.
Operant Conditioning
A type of learning in which the future probability of a behaviour is affected by its consequences.
Reinforcer
Follows a behaviour and the future probability of that behaviour increases.
Punisher
Follows a behaviour, and the future probability of that behaviour decreases.
Extinction (Operant)
The weakening of a behaviour through the non-reinforcement of a previously reinforced behaviour.
Discriminative Stimulus
A stimulus in the presence of which responses are reinforced and in the absence of which are not reinforced.
Three-Term Contingencies
The discriminative stimulus, the operant behaviour, and the reinforcer/punisher. (ABC, notice something, do something, get/lose something).
Discriminative Stimulus for Punishment
A stimulus that signals a response will be punished.
Discriminative Stimulus for Extinction
A stimulus that signals the absence of reinforcement.
Positive Reinforcement
The presentation of a stimulus following a response to increase the future strength of that response.
Negative Reinforcement
The removal of a stimulus following a response which leads to an increase in future strength of that response.
Escape Behaviour
The termination of an aversive stimulus.
Advoidance Behaviour
Occurs before the aversive stimulus is presented and prevents its delivery.
Positive Punishment
Presentation of a stimulus following a response, which then leads to a decrease in the future strength of that response.
Negative Punishment
The removal of a stimulus following a response, that leads to the decrease in the future strength of that response.
Primary/Unconditioned Reinforcer
An event that is innately reinforcing - born to like, not learned.
Secondary or Conditioned Reinforcer
An event that is reinforcing because it has been associated with some other reinforcer.
Generalized Reinforcer
A type of secondary reinforcer that has been associated with several other reinforcers. (ex: money, social attention).
Intrinsic Reinforcement
Reinforcement provided by the mere act of performing the behaviour.
Extrinsic Reinforcement
Reinforcement provided by some consequence thats external to that behaviour.
When can extrinsic reinforcement undermine intrinsic?
When reward is expected, tangible, or given regardless of performance quality.
When can extrinsic reinforcement enhance intrinsic?
When reward is verbal, or when tangible reward matches the quality of the performance.
Natural Reinforcers
Reinforcers typically provided for a certian behaviour - expected consequences within that setting.
Contrived or Artificial Reinforcers
Reinforcers that have been deliberately arranged to modify a behaviour. (Ex: watching tv once finishing chores).
Shaping
The gradual creation of new behaviour through reinforcement of successive approximations to that behaviour.
Learned Industriousness Theory
Hard work can become secondary reinforcer.
