Chapter 1- A Science Of Behavior: Perspective, History, And Assumptions Flashcards
Selection by Consequences
Operant are selected by their consequences.
–> Selection by consequence= remote causation
Trial-and-Error Learning
A term coined by Thorndike, which he used to describe the results of his puzzle-box and maze-learning experiments. Animals were said to make fewer and fewer errors over repeated trials, learning by trial-and-error.
Conditioning
When an organism learns new ways of behaving in reaction to the changes that occur in the environment.
Science of Behavior
This term implies a more general scientific approach that includes assumptions about how to study behavior, techniques for carrying out the analysis, a systematic body of knowledge, and practical implications for society and culture.
–> No longer referred to as behavioral psychology
Respondent Conditioning
Occurs when a neutral or otherwise meaningless stimulus is paired with an unconditioned stimulus.
–> Example: buzz of a bee (neutral stimulus) is paired with the pain of a sting (US) –> after this, the buzz of a bee usually causes people to run away/ avoid (respondent).
Respondent
This refers to behavior that increases or decreases by the presentation of a conditioned stimulus (CS) that precedes the conditioned response (CR).
–> We say that the presentation of the CS regulates or controls the respondent (CR).
Remote Causation
Typical of sciences like evolutionary biology, geology, and astronomy.
–> Causal explanation of species characteristics (size, coloration, exceptional vision) involves the working of natural selection on the gene pool of the parent population.
Reinforcement
An increase in the rate of the operant behavior as a function of its consequences. Reinforcement also refers to the procedure of presenting a reinforcing event when a response occurs.
Reflex
When an unconditioned stimulus elicits an unconditioned response (US –> UR), the relationship is called a reflex.
Private Behavior
Behavior that is only accessible to the person who emits it.
Operant Conditioning
An increase or decrease in operant response as a function of the consequences that have followed the response.
Operant
Behavior that operates on the environment to produce a change, effect, or consequence.
Learning
The acquisition, maintenance, and change of an organism’s behavior as a result of lifetime events.
Law of Effect
As originally stated by Thorndike, this law refers to stamping in (or out) some response.
- -> For example: a cat opened a puzzle-box door more rapidly over repeated trials.
- -> Currently this law is stated as the principle of reinforcement.
Immediate Causation
Refers to the kind of mechanism studied by physics and chemistry; the “billiard ball” sort of process where we try to isolate a chain of events that directly result in some effect.
–> Example: chemical reactions.
