Operant Conditioning

Question 1

What is operant conditioning?

Answer 1

A learning theory where you learn through consequences.

Question 2

What is an antecedent?

Answer 2

What has already happened

Question 3

What is A-B-C model?

Answer 3

Antecedent— Behaviour— Consequence

Question 4

What is a reinforcement?

Answer 4

When desired behaviour is rewarded so is more likely to be repeated.

Question 5

What is positive reinforcement?

Answer 5

Rewards desired behaviour by ADDING something pleasant.

Question 6

What is negative reinforcement?

Answer 6

Rewards desired behaviour by REMOVING something unpleasant.

Question 7

What is a primary reinforcement?

Answer 7

A reward we want instinctively/ basic need.

Question 8

What is a secondary reinforcement?

Answer 8

A reward we have learned to value.

Question 9

What is a punishment?

Answer 9

When an undesirable behaviour produces unpleasant consequences.

Question 10

What is positive punishment?

Answer 10

Punished for undesirable behaviour by ADDING something unpleasant.

Question 11

What is negative punishment?

Answer 11

Punishment for undesirable behaviour by REMOVING something pleasant.

Question 12

What is an example of positive reinforcement? (4)

Answer 12

Food, affection, money, compliments

Question 13

What is an example of a negative reinforcement? (1)

Answer 13

Stopping pain

Question 14

What is an example of a primary reinforcement? (3)

Answer 14

Food, water, shelter

Question 15

What is an example of a secondary reinforcement? (1)

Answer 15

Money

Question 16

What is an example of a positive punishment? (3)

Answer 16

Criticism, shock, writing lines

Question 17

What is an example of a negative punishment? (3)

Answer 17

Grounding, deducting money, taking phone

Question 18

What is successive approximations?

Answer 18

Rewarding a behaviour as it gets closer to desired response.

Question 19

Schedules of Reinforcement: CONTINUOUS REINFORCEMENT (3)

Answer 19

Behaviour is reinforced every time
Low but steady response rate
Behaviour will extinguish quickly if reinforcement is withheld

Question 20

Schedules of Reinforcement: FIXED INTERVAL (3)

Answer 20

Provides reinforcement at set times
Uneven response
Extinguishes quite quickly

Question 21

Schedules of Reinforcement: VARIABLE INTERVAL (3)

Answer 21

When reinforcement is given after varying time intervals
Uneven resposes
Extinction is quite rapid

Question 22

Schedules of Reinforcement: FIXED RATIO (3)

Answer 22

Reinforcement is given after a certain number of responses
Uneven responses
Extinction is quite rapid

Question 23

Schedules of Reinforcement: VARIABLE RATIO (2)

Answer 23

Reinforcement given after a varying number of responses
Extinction occurs gradually

Question 24

What is contingent?

Answer 24

A clear link between a persons behaviour and consequences it produces
- know what being punished/rewarded for

Question 25

What is contiguent?

Answer 25

Consequences follow soon after behaviour - if too long a delay, conditioning is weakened

Question 26

What is token economy?

Answer 26

A treatment that provides secondary reimbursement for a desirable behaviour that can be saved up/ exchanged for primary reinforcer

Question 27

What is an example of where token economy is used?

Answer 27

Prisons- library use, TV use, phone calls

Question 28

Evaluating Operant Conditioning: STRENGTHS (3)

Answer 28

- Scientifically credible— consistent findings - modern brain studies— Chase et al (2015) - reliable/ replicable/ valid

Question 29

Evaluating Operant Conditioning: WEAKNESSES (2)

Answer 29

- still incomplete - can’t account for learning of new behaviour never done before

Question 30

Evaluating Operant Conditioning: APPLICATION (2)

Answer 30

- Schools, nurseries - Prisons

Question 31

Supporting Study: PAUL & LENZ (1977) (5)

Answer 31

- 84 schizophrenic pps, token economy - Reduced bizarre motor behaviour/ improved self-care behaviour - didn’t help: delusions/hallucinations/ hostile behaviour - after 11% needed medication compared to 100% before - unethical: social control