OPERANT CONDITIONING DP4

Question 1

Operant conditioning

Answer 1

A learning process in which the likelihood of a particular behaviour occurring is determined by the consequences of that behaviour
Eg. I do my homework, I get good feedback from my teacher, I am more likely to do that behaviour again

Question 2

Operant

Answer 2

• A response or set of responses that occurs and acts on the environment to produce some kind of effect.
• Behaviour can be strengthened if the consequences are positive and weakened if the consequences are negative.
• Consequences determine the likelihood of a behaviour being repeated

Question 3

Antecedent

Answer 3

Also known as discriminative stimulus
What came before the behaviour
Eg. the phone rang (antecedent)
→ a stimulus that occurs before the behaviour

Question 4

Behaviour

Answer 4

Operant response
What you actually do
Eg. You picked it up (behaviour)
→ the behaviour that occurs due to the antecedent

Question 5

Consequence

Answer 5

What happens after the behaviour
Eg. Someone is screaming at you, never pick up the phone again
Consequences sway / direct future behaviour

Question 6

Reinforcement

Answer 6

When desirable behaviour is encouraged with the view to strengthening it
- A reinforcer is any stimulus that strengthens the likelihood of a response that it follows.

Question 7

Positive vs negative reinforcement

Answer 7

Positive - Give something desirable (pleasant)

Negative - Take away something undesirable (aversive)

Question 8

Punishment

Answer 8

When undesirable behaviour is discouraged with a view to weakening it

Question 9

Positive vs negative punishment

Answer 9

Positive - involves the introduction of a stimulus, decreasing the likelihood of a response occurring again.

Negative / response cost - involves the removal or loss of a stimulus, decreasing the likelihood of a response occurring again.

Question 10

Continuous Reinforcement (timing)

Answer 10

• Reinforcement is given after every correct response.

- This is essential in the acquisition stage but not effective for maintaining a maximal response rate

Question 11

Partial Reinforcement (timing)

Answer 11

• Reinforcing after some responses, but not all of them.

- Used after the acquisition stage and responses tend to be stronger and less easily extinguished.

Question 12

Order of Presentation (effectiveness)

Answer 12

A reinforcement or punishment should always occur after a desired response (and it should be consistent).

Question 13

Timing (effectiveness)

Answer 13

The punishment or reinforcement are most effective when given immediately after the response has occurred.

Question 14

Appropriateness (effectiveness)

Answer 14

Need to take into account the personal characteristics of the individual and the individual situation when deciding whether the stimulus will act as a reinforcer or punishment.

Question 15

Stimulus Generalisation

Answer 15

Occurs when the correct response is made to another stimulus that is similar (but not necessarily identical) to the stimulus that was present when the original behaviour was reinforced
Eg: also works hard in other subject

Question 16

Stimulus discrimination

Answer 16

When an organism makes the correct response to a stimulus, and is reinforced, but does not respond to any other stimulus, even when stimuli are similar
Eg: good behaviour for mum but not for dad OR works in one subject but not others

Question 17

Extinction

Answer 17

The gradual decrease in the strength or rate of a learned response following consistent non-reinforcement of the response.

Question 18

Spontaneous Recovery

Answer 18

Can occur after the apparent extinction and involves the organism once again showing the response in the absence of any reinforcement. Responses will most likely be weaker and not last very long