Operant Conditioning Flashcards
Define ‘Law of Effect’.
Of the several responses made to the same situation, those which are closely followed by satisfaction will be more firmly connected with the situation.
What process did the cat in Thorndike’s (1911) experiment learn through?
Trial and error.
Describe the conclusions Thorndike drew from his experiment.
- Showed that an animal learns a response through favourable consequences
- This increases the probability of that behaviour repeating
How does operant conditioning compare to classical conditioning in the responses that are learnt?
Classical = The responses already occur naturally to an animal, it's only the stimuli that can be manipulated to elicits these responses Operant = New behaviours are created in animals in response to a consequence
Define ‘positive reinforcement’.
Something positive which is received when the desired behaviour is performed.
Give and example of positive reinforcement.
Giving a dog a treat when they act well behaved or perform a trick.
What is ‘primary’ positive reinforcement?
One that satisfies a basic need such as getting food.
What is ‘secondary’ positive reinforcement?
One that enables you to access a primary reinforcement such as getting money.
Define ‘negative reinforcement’.
Something negative is avoided after the desired behaviour is performed which increases the probability of the desirable behaviour being performed and repeated.
Give and example of negative reinforcement.
Doing homework to avoid detention.
Define ‘punishment’.
Causing some kind of physical or mental distress by giving a negative consequence and so decreasing the probability of the undesirable behaviour being repeated.
Define ‘positive’ punishment.
Receiving something negative as punishment.
Give an example of positive punishment.
Getting hit by a ruler at school for being naughty.
Define ‘negative’ punishment.
Getting something taken away or being deprived of something as punishment.
Give an example of negative punishment.
Going to be without tea for being naughty.
Give an example of primary punishment.
Being deprived of food.
Give an example of secondary punishment.
Being deprived of pocket money.
Define ‘shaping’ in terms of ‘successive approximations’.
Learning a new skill through different stages, being rewarded each time.
Give an example of shaping in terms of successive approximations.
Learning how to use a knife and fork by using stages such as going from being fed, to a spoon, to a knife and fork.
Define ‘chaining’.
Combining individual activities to receive a reward at the end rather than after each activity.
Give an example of chaining.
Tidying all of a room and receiving the reward at the end rather than after each item of clothing is picked up.
Define ‘uncontrollable reinforcers’.
When the behaviour has no real effect on the reward but the reward follows so that they appear to be linked.
Give an example of how this can lead to superstition.
Being cautious on Friday 13th and getting through the day without anything bad happening so that behaviour is repeated.
List the 3 principles of operant conditioning.
1) Generalisation
2) Discrimination
3) Extinction
