Topic 4 Flashcards
operant (instrumental) conditioning
learning that is controlled by the consequences of the organism’s behaviour
Thorndike’s law of effect
if a response, in the presence of a stimulus, is followed by a satisfying state of affairs, the association between stimulus and response is strengthened, if it is followed by an unsatisfying event, association is weakened,
positive reinforcement
add a desirable stimulus. Increases frequency of behaviour
negative reinforcement
remove an aversive stimulus. Increases frequency of behaviour
positive punishment
add an aversive stimulus. decreases frequency of behaviour
negative punishment
remove a appetitive stimulus. decreases frequency of behaviour
operant behaviour
a behaviour that is strengthened through the process of reinforcement
operant learning
a change in behaviour as a function of the consequences that follows it.
reinforcement
the procedure of providing consequences for a behaviour that increase or maintain the probability of that behaviour occurring in the future
reinforcer
any event or stimulus that follows an operant response and increases or maintains its future probability
escape behaviour
when operant behaviour increases by removing an ongoing event or stimulus. ex. pressing a lever to STOP a electric shock
avoidance behaviour
when operant behaviour increases by preventing the onset of the event or stimulus. ex. pressing a lever to PREVENT an electric shock
discrete trial procedures
instrumental response produces once per trial. each trial ends with removal of animal from apparatus. ex. mice in a maze
free operant procedures
animals remain in apparatus and can make many responses. no intervention by the examiner. ex. operant boxes
cumulative record
a graphical tool used to track the progress of a specific behavior or skill over time. It visually represents the cumulative total of responses or occurrences of the target behavior.
unconditional (primary) reinforcer
a reinforcer that acquired its properties as a function of a species evolutionary history. i.e., stimuli and events that have phylogenic importance. ex. food, sex, water, sleep, etc
conditional (secondary) reinforcer
otherwise neutral stimuli or events that have acquired the ability to reinforce due to a contingent relationship with other, typically unconditional, reinforcer
Motivating operations
make a stimulus more effective as a reinforcer at a particular time. ex. deprivation
abolishing operations
make a stimulus less effective as a reinforcer at a particular time. ex. satiation
continuous reinforcement schedule
behaviour is reinforced after each time it occurs. Rate of behaviour increases rapidly (useful when shaping a new behaviour)
intermittent reinforcement schedule
4 main types:
-fixed ratio schedule
-variable ratio schedule
-fixed interval schedule
-variable interval schedule
fixed ratio schedule
behaviour is reinforced after a fixed number of times. generates a post reinforcement pause
post reinforcement pause (PRP)
temporary break in behavior that occurs immediately after receiving reinforcement
variable ratio schedule
the number of responses needed varies each times. ratio requirement varies around an average. PRPs are rare and very short . 2 variations: random ratio and progressive ratio
