Operant Conditioning

Question 1

Define “Law of effect”

Answer 1

Of the several responses made to the same situation, those which are closely followed by satisfaction will be more firmly connected with the situation

Question 2

What process did the cat in Thorndike’s (1911) experiment learn through?

Answer 2

Trial and error

Question 3

Describe the conclusions Thorndike drew from his experiment

Answer 3

• Showed that an animal learns a response through favourable consequences
• This increases the probability of that behaviour repeating

Question 4

How does operant conditioning compare to classical conditioning in the responses that are learnt?

Answer 4

• Classical = The response already occur naturally to an animal, its only the stimuli that can be manipulated to elicits these responses
• Operant = New behaviours are created in animals in response to a consequence

Question 5

Define “positive reinforcement”

Answer 5

Something positive which is received when the desired behaviour is performed

Question 6

Example of positive reinforcement

Answer 6

Giving a dog a treat when they act well behaved or perform a trick

Question 7

What is “primary” positive reinforcement?

Answer 7

One that satisfies a basic need such as getting food

Question 8

What is “secondary” positive reinforcement?

Answer 8

One that enables you to access a primary reinforcement such as getting money

Question 9

Define “negative reinforcement”

Answer 9

Something negative is avoided after the desired behaviour is performed which increases the probabililty of the desirable behaviour being perfomed and repeated

Question 10

Give and example of negative reinforcement

Answer 10

Doing homework to avoid detention

Question 11

Define punishment

Answer 11

Causing some kind of physical or mental distress by giving a negative consequence and so decreasing the probability of the undesirable behaviour being repeated

Question 12

Define positive punishment

Answer 12

Receiving something negative as punishment

Question 13

Give an example of positive punishment

Answer 13

Getting hit by a rule at school for being naughty

Question 14

Define negative punishment

Answer 14

Getting something taken away or being deprived of something as punishment

Question 15

Give an example of negative punishment

Answer 15

Going to be without tea for being naughty

Question 16

Give an example of primary punishment

Answer 16

Being deprived of food

Question 17

Give an example of secondary punishment

Answer 17

Being deprived of pocket money

Question 18

Define shaping in terms of successive approximations

Answer 18

Learning a new skill through different stages, being rewarded each time

Question 19

Give an example of shaping in terms of successive approximations

Answer 19

Learning how to use a knife and fork by using stages such as going from being fed, to a spoon, to a knife and fork

Question 20

Define chaining

Answer 20

A type of intervention that aims to create associations between behaviours in a behaviour chain

Question 21

An example of behaviour chaining?

Answer 21

When an individual puts on a t-shirt, placement of the shirt on top of the individuals head is a cue for the individual to pull the shirt over the head

Question 22

What are the 3 principles of operant conditioning?

Answer 22

• Threhold = Introduce a weak stimulus and then increase it over time.
• Fatigue = Repeat the unwanted response to the stimulus until tired
• Incompatible response = Pair a stimulus to something more desirable

Question 23

Generalisation in terms of Operant conditioning?

Answer 23

The spreading of the effects of a behaviour strengthening contingency to other responses that are similar to the target response that resulted in the behaviour strengthening consequence

Question 24

Discrimination in operant conditioning

Answer 24

A procedure in which an operant response is reinforced in a particular stimulus but not in the absence of that stimulus.