operant conditioning

Question 1

operant conditioning

Answer 1

involves relations between environmental stimuli and our own behaviour/ focuses on events which comes before and after our behaviours and how these events impact on said behaviour

Question 2

Describe the experiment conducted by Edward L. Thorndike in 1905.

Answer 2

Edward. Thorndike placed a hungry cat inside a ‘puzzle box’ and observed its behavior as it tried to escape and eat food.

Question 3

what were the initial behaviors exhibited by the cat inside the ‘puzzle box’?

Answer 3

The initial behaviors included ‘random’ movements, meowing, scratching, and hissing.

Question 4

Define the Law of Effect proposed by Thorndike.

Answer 4

The Law of Effect states that the occurrence of a favorable outcome strengthens the response that produced it.

Question 5

How did Thorndike hypothesize that the cat learned to escape the box?

Answer 5

Thorndike hypothesized that the cat learned to emit a behavior that allowed it to escape the box, as only this behavior led to a favorable outcome.

Question 6

What did Thorndike suggest the reward created for the cat?

Answer 6

Thorndike suggested that the reward created a ‘satisfying state’ for the cat, leading it to engage in the satisfying behavior.

Question 7

How did Thorndike’s experiment with the cat in the ‘puzzle box’ contribute to the theory of Operant Conditioning?

Answer 7

Thorndike’s experiment laid the foundation for the theory of Operant Conditioning, as it demonstrated the influence of favorable outcomes on behavior.

Question 8

Describe the cat’s behavior after subsequent trials in the ‘puzzle box’ according to Thorndike’s experiment.

Answer 8

After subsequent trials, the cat’s behavior became less ‘random’ and more determined/functional as it became efficient at operating the latch to escape.

Question 9

the three term contingency

Answer 9

Antecedent – behaviour – consequence

Question 10

“response class”.

Answer 10

a group of behaviours is referred to as a “response class”/it is a response class that is strengthened or weakened by operant conditioning

Question 11

Classically conditioned behaviours (respondent behaviours) characteristics

Answer 11

Classically conditioned behaviours (respondent behaviours) are typically quite “fixed” behaviours – often reflexes.

Question 12

Operant behaviour characteristics

Answer 12

Operant behaviours are not “fixed”, or defined by their topography. (i.e. not one specific behaviour)/ may vary each time they are emitted, or vary in different environments/ however they are functionally similar.

Question 13

Operant behaviour

Answer 13

Operant behaviour is any behaviour whose future frequency is determined primarily by its history of consequences.

Question 14

Classically conditioned behaviour (respondent behaviour)

Answer 14

Classically conditioned behaviour (respondent behaviour) does not give the organism the ability to learn from the consequences of its actions. CC behaviour is typically elicited by antecedent events.

Question 15

Operant conditioning

Answer 15

Operant conditioning is the process and selective effects of consequences on behaviour.

Question 16

how is the levels of behaviour determined?

Answer 16

Whether we produce more or less of the behaviour is determined by whether the response has been strengthened or weakened by its consequences.

Question 17

impact of Skinner

Answer 17

Along with the Skinner box (operant chamber) he also invented the cumulative recorder, a device which accurately records rate of responding/ Created objective methods of observing, measuring and interpreting behaviour

Question 18

Describe the operant chamber (Skinner Box) invented by B.F. Skinner.

Answer 18

It is a device used to study operant conditioning in animals, providing a controlled environment to observe behavior and its consequences.

Question 19

Describe positive reinforcement in the context of alcohol consumption.

Answer 19

reinforcement refers to the pleasant feelings and social enhancement effects that alcohol provides leading to greater frequency and quantity alcohol consumption.

Question 20

What is the difference between positive and negative reinforcement?

Answer 20

Positive reinforcement involves the presentation or increase of a stimulus, likely to increase the frequency of a behavior, while negative reinforcement involves the withdrawal or decrease of a stimulus, also likely to increase the frequency of a behavior.

Question 21

Define negative reinforcement and its association with alcohol consumption.

Answer 21

Negative reinforcement encompasses relief from negative affective states like stress or anxiety, and is more predictive of subsequent drinking related problems and alcohol use disorders.

Question 22

negative reinforcement

Answer 22

negative reinforcement generally refers to the removal of aversive stimuli from the environment.

Question 23

Describe the difference between positive and negative punishment.

Answer 23

Positive punishment involves adding an aversive stimulus, while negative punishment involves removing a desirable stimulus.

Question 24

Define reinforcement and punishment in the context of behaviorism.

Answer 24

Reinforcement increases the likelihood of a behavior, while punishment decreases the likelihood of a behavior.

Question 25

How does the timing of consequences affect the effectiveness of reinforcement and punishment?

Answer 25

Immediate consequences have the greatest effect, with behavior being most sensitive to changes that occur immediately after or within a few seconds of the response.

Question 26

Describe the concept that reinforcement acts on behaviors, not on the person.

Answer 26

Reinforcement technically acts on and affects the overall person, but its primary focus is on the behaviors it follows and strengthens within the person’s repertoire.

Question 27

Define reinforcement in the context of behavior analysis.

Answer 27

Reinforcement occurs when a behavior is followed closely by a stimulus event, leading to an increase in the future frequency of that behavior in similar conditions.

Question 28

How are positive and negative reinforcement distinguished in behavior analysis?

Answer 28

Positive reinforcement involves adding a stimulus to increase the likelihood of a behavior, while negative reinforcement involves removing a stimulus to achieve the same effect.

Question 29

Do all consequences serve as reinforcement or punishment for individuals?

Answer 29

No, as the effectiveness of consequences as reinforcement or punishment can vary based on individual preferences and needs, such as craving attention or experiencing negative attention.

Question 30

Describe the concept of rule-governed behavior.

Answer 30

Rule-governed behavior involves following rules given by others or self-imposed rules, which can lead to psychological suffering if excessive.

Question 31

What is the four-term contingency in behavior analysis?

Answer 31

Antecedent-Behavior-Consequence-Setting (ABCS) model, which describes the functional relationships between environmental events and behavior

Question 32

Define satiation in the context of behavior analysis.

Answer 32

Satiation refers to a state where a reinforcer loses its effectiveness due to overexposure, reducing the likelihood of the associated behavior.

Question 33

How does rule-governed behavior impact human behavior according to the content?

Answer 33

Rule-governed behavior can lead to complex social and verbal relations, affecting behavior based on long-delayed consequences.

Question 34

Do rules in rule-governed behavior establish contingencies?

Answer 34

Yes, rules in rule-governed behavior establish ‘if-then’ causal relations between actions and consequences, influencing behavior.

Question 35

Describe the relationship between feeding the neighbor’s dog and receiving 100 euros in rule-governed behavior.

Answer 35

Feeding the neighbor’s dog predicts reinforcement of receiving 100 euros due to the established contingency in the rule.

Question 36

How do motivating operations influence behavior in behavioral psychology?

Answer 36

motivating operations influence behavior by affecting the current effectiveness of reinforcers, making individuals more likely to engage in certain behaviors.

Question 37

What is an establishing operation (EO) in the context of motivating operations?

Answer 37

An establishing operation (EO) is an MO that increases the current effectiveness of a reinforcer, such as being deprived of food making food more reinforcing.

Question 38

Explain the concept of an abolishing operation (AO) in motivating operations.

Answer 38

An abolishing operation (AO) is an MO that decreases the current effectiveness of a reinforcer, reducing the likelihood of certain behaviors.

Question 39

Do rule-governed behaviors rely on immediate reinforcement like other behaviors?

Answer 39

No, rule-governed behaviors are guided by verbal descriptions of contingencies and do not rely on immediate reinforcement like other behaviors.

Question 40

Describe the concept of Establishing Operation (EO) in behavior analysis.

Answer 40

EOs determine what an individual wants at a specific moment and can increase or decrease the value of a reinforcer.

Question 41

Define Discrimination learning in the context of operant conditioning.

Answer 41

It involves learning to respond when reinforcement is available and not respond when it is unavailable, recognizing the difference between the two circumstances.

Question 42

How does reinforcement impact environmental conditions in behavior analysis?

Answer 42

Reinforcement can influence not only behavior but also the stimuli in the environment that trigger the behavior.

Question 43

Describe the role of Motivating Operations (MOs) in behavior analysis.

Answer 43

MOs determine an individual’s current wants or needs, with the value of a reinforcer increasing with deprivation and decreasing with satiation.

Question 44

How does operant conditioning bring behavior under the control of antecedent stimuli?

Answer 44

Operant conditioning associates behavior with stimuli, with the presence of a stimulus that was present during reinforcement leading to a higher rate of the behavior.

Question 45

Describe stimulus control in behavior.

Answer 45

Stimulus occurs when a behavior happens more frequently in the presence of a specific stimulus compared to its absence, indicating that the behavior is influenced by that stimulus.

Question 46

Describe the concept of a discriminative stimulus in behavior analysis.

Answer 46

A discriminative stimulus is a specific antecedent that signals the availability of reinforcement for a particular behavior, prompting the individual to engage in that behavior.