Ch. 6.1 - Operant Conditioning

Question 1

Operant conditioning

Answer 1

Type of learning in which behaviour is determined by consequences

Question 2

Edward Thorndike (2)

Answer 2

• puzzle boxes with cats
• Law of effect: responses followed by satisfaction will occur again; those not followed satisfaction will become less likely

Question 3

B. F. Skinner (2)

Answer 3

• coined ‘operant conditioning’

- used operant boxes (Skinner boxes)

Question 4

Reinforcement

Answer 4

Process in which an event or stimulus (reinforcer) that follows a response increases the likelihood of that response occurring again

Question 5

Punishment

Answer 5

Process in which an event or stimulus (punisher) decreases the future probability of it occurring again

Question 6

Primary reinforcer

Answer 6

Consist of reinforcing stimuli that satisfy basic motivational needs (food)

Question 7

Secondary reinforcer

Answer 7

Consist of reinforcing stimuli that acquire their value through learning (money)

Question 8

Avoidance learning

Answer 8

Removing the possibility of a stimulus occurring

Question 9

Escape learning

Answer 9

Occurs if a response removes a stimulus that’s already present

Question 10

Effectiveness of punishment depends on (6)

Answer 10

• being understood
• severity
• initial punishment level
• contiguity
• consistency
• showing appropriate behaviours

Question 11

As with classical conditioning, operant conditioning is also characterized by:

Answer 11

Discrimination, generalization, and extinction processes

Question 12

Discriminative stimulus

Answer 12

Cue/event that indicated a response, that if made, will be reinforced

Question 13

Delayed reinforcement

Answer 13

Reduces strength of stimulus-response pairing

Question 14

Shaping (2)

Answer 14

• procedure in which a specific operant response is created by reinforcing successive approximations of that response
• step-by-step (cat toilet trained)

Question 15

Applied behaviour analysis (ABA) (2)

Answer 15

• used with development conditions (autism)

- used to shape desirable behaviours

Question 16

Schedules of reinforcement

Answer 16

Rules that determine when reinforcement is available

Question 17

Continuous reinforcement (2)

Answer 17

• occurs when every response made results in reinforcement

- vending machines

Question 18

Partial (intermittent) reinforcement

Answer 18

When only a certain number of responses are rewarded, or a certain amount of time must pass before reinforcement is available

Question 19

Types of partial reinforcement (2)

Answer 19

• fixed vs variable schedules

- ratio vs interval schedules

Question 20

Fixed RATIO schedule (2)

Answer 20

• reinforcement is delivered after a specific number of responses have been completed
• McCafe punchcard

Question 21

Fixed INTERVAL schedule (2)

Answer 21

• reinforces the first response occurring after a set amount of time passes
• wait few min to get more stuff at PokeStop

Question 22

Variable INTERVAL schedule (2)

Answer 22

• the first response is reinforced following a variable amount of times
• shooting star?? Boss checking on you

Question 23

Variable RATIO schedule (2)

Answer 23

• the number of responses required to receive reinforcement varies according to an average
• gambling

Question 24

Partial reinforcement effect (2)

Answer 24

• organisms conditioned under partial reinforcement resist extinction longer than those under continuous reinforcement
• problem gambling

Question 25

Superstitions and reinforcement (4)

Answer 25

• superstations cab form when it’s not clear what behaviour led to the reward
• B. F. Skinner generated ‘superstitious’ behaviours in pigeons
• confirmation bias
• superstitions can have positive effects on controllable behaviour