LEARNING THEORIES operant conditioning

Question 1

who created this theory

Answer 1

B F Skinner

Question 2

what was the theory behind operant conditioning

Answer 2

• learning is due to the consequences of behaviour
• can be a form of reinforcement or punishment

Question 3

explain positive reinforcement and give an example

Answer 3

STRENGTHENS behaviours by introducing rewards - giving a bone to a dog after it sits

Question 4

explain negative reinforcement and give an example

Answer 4

STRENGTHENS behaviour that avoids or removes negative outcomes - staying the speed limit so that no fines are given

Question 5

explain positive punishment and give an example

Answer 5

WEAKENS undesirable behaviour by adding an unfavourable outcome - receiving a fine for speeding

Question 6

explain negative punishment and give an example

Answer 6

WEAKENS behaviour by something nice being removed - removing a teenager’s phone

Question 7

explain Skinner’s box

Answer 7

• Rats and Pigeons were placed in a box where they had to press a lever to obtain food
• they explored the box and accidently pressed the lever which released food
• learnt that pressing the lever meant food

Question 8

explain the term behaviour modification

Answer 8

the gradual alteration of behavioural patterns using positive and negative reinforcement through shaping and schedules of reinforcement

Question 9

explain what is meant by shaping

Answer 9

reinforcement of successive approximations of the target behaviour (giving a pigeon food while walking towards a lever, at the lever, and when it presses the lever)

Question 10

what are the schedules of reinforcement

Answer 10

continuous
fixed interval
variable interval
fixed ratio
variable ratio

Question 11

what is continuous reinforcement

Answer 11

constantly rewarded for continuing the behaviour - can lead to extinction quickly

Question 12

what is fixed interval

Answer 12

there is a fixed time between reinforcement or punishment - can lead to extinction quickly

Question 13

what is fixed ratio

Answer 13

a fixed number of behaviours must occur before receiving the reinforcement or punishment

Question 14

what is a variable interval

Answer 14

there is a variable time between reinforcement and punishment

Question 15

what is variable ratio

Answer 15

there is a variable number of rewards and punishment given randomly

Question 16

positives of the theory

Answer 16

• supporting evidence of Skinner’s box - rats and pigeons operantly conditioned to press a lever for food
• credibility - extrapolation/ nomothetic approach - little difference in how humans learn to animals
• useful application - explain individual’s compulsion to repeatedly check phones - treat phone addictions

Question 17

negatives of the theory

Answer 17

• focuses on nurture - new behaviours are learned through environment - some people born with prepositions towards behaviour
• lacks credibility - cannot generalise animals to humans - anatomy and physiology is different
• reductionist - isolates behaviour is due to consequences - ignores other factors like internal mental processes and nature