Operant Conditioning

Question 1

According to this psychological principle, behaviors that are followed by a satisfying consequence are likely to occur again, while behaviors followed by a dissatisfying consequence are less likely to be repeated.

Answer 1

Thorndike’s Law of Effect

Question 2

According to B.F. Skinner, whether or not a voluntary behavior is emitted depends on how it operates on its environment. This extended Thorndike’s work and is called _____.

Answer 2

Operant conditioning

Question 3

The extinguishing of a behavior following the withholding of a reinforcer - and often preceded by an extinction burst - is called _____.

Answer 3

Operant extinction

Question 4

In terms of reinforcement schedules, new behavior is acquired fastest with a _____ schedule, though satiation will set in and rapid extinction will follow cessation of reinforcement.

Answer 4

continuous

Question 5

In terms of reinforcement schedules, the optimal learning procedure is to begin with a continuous reinforcement schedule and switch to a ______ schedule when behavior has achieved an optimal level.

Answer 5

Intermittent

Question 6

The four types of intermittent reinforcement schedules are:

Answer 6

1. Fixed interval (after a set period of time - like a paycheck)
2. Variable interval (after varying amounts of time, so long as the response occurs at least once)
3. Fixed ratio (after a certain number of responses - like a taco after 100 pushups)
4. Variable ratio (after a varied number of responses - like a slot machine)

Question 7

In terms of responses, fixed interval reinforcement schedules tend to produce:

Answer 7

Low rates of responding, with responses made before the end of the interval.

Question 8

In terms of responses, variable interval reinforcement schedules tend to produce:

Answer 8

Steady responses but low response rate

Question 9

In terms of responses, fixed ratio reinforcement schedules tend to produce:

Answer 9

Steady and relatively high rate of responses

Question 10

In terms of responses, variable ratio reinforcement schedules tend to produce:

Answer 10

Highest rate of responses and greatest resistance to extinction

Question 11

Reducing the amount of reinforcement for a behavior is called _____. This can be helpful in reducing extinction, if the behavior is at a desired level.

Answer 11

Thinning

Question 12

In operant conditioning, when two behaviors are reinforced concurrently but on different schedules, we expect the behaviors to be performed relative to the rate of each reinforcer. This is called _____

Answer 12

Matching law

Question 13

_____ reinforcers are inherently reinforcing because they satisfy needs related to basic survival.

Answer 13

Primary (e.g., food, water)

Question 14

_____ reinforcers are neutral stimuli that become reinforcing due to their association with primary reinforcers. When these are associated with a bunch of primary reinforcers, they are also known as _____ reinforcers.

Answer 14

Secondary; generalized

Question 15

When a behavior is increased because of accidental reinforcement, this is called _____.

Answer 15

Superstitious behavior

Question 16

_____ is a form of two-factor learning which combines operant and classical conditioning, combining reinforcement and pairing in the form of discriminant stimulus.

Answer 16

Stimulus control

Question 17

Cues that help initiate the performance of a behavior and include providing cues, instructions, or physical guidance are called _____. When they’re reinforced, they become a form of discriminative stimulus.

Answer 17

Prompts

Question 18

In operant conditioning, when a stimulus similar to the intended stimulus initiates the same response, this is called _____

Answer 18

Stimulus generalization

Question 19

When a behavior is reinforced, and similar behaviors start happening, this is called _____.

Answer 19

Response generalization

Question 20

A form of negative reinforcement, _____ is when a person escapes an unpleasant stimulus.

Answer 20

Escape conditioning

Question 21

A combo of negative reinforcement and classical conditioning, ______ is when a person believes an unpleasant stimulus is about to occur, and they avoid the stimulus before it occurs.

Answer 21

Avoidance conditioning

Question 22

_____ is the gradual decline in the frequency or magnitude of a response, and this is identified as one of the reasons that punishment doesn’t work long term.

Answer 22

Habituation

Question 23

_____ is a form of discriminative stimulus that signals a behavior will not be reinforced.

Answer 23

Negative discriminative stimulus