Unit 6.2 Psychology Flashcards
(18 cards)
Law of effect
Thorndike’s principle that behaviors followed by favorable consequences become more likely, and that behaviors followed by unfavorable consequences become less likely
Operant conditioning
A type of learning in which behavior is straightened if followed by a reinforcer or diminished if followed by a punisher
Operant chamber
A chamber containing a bar or key that an animal can manipulate to obtain a good or water reinforcer
Reinforcement
In operant conditioning, any event that strengthens the behavior it follows
Shaping
An operant conditioning procedure in which reinforcers guide behavior toward closer and closer approximations of the desired behavior
Discriminative stimulus
A stimulus that elicits a response after association with reinforcement
Positive reinforcement
Increasing behaviors by presenting positive reinforcers. Strengthens the response
Negative reinforcement
Increasing behaviors by stopping or reducing negative stimuli
Primary reinforcer
An innately reinforcing stimulus such as one that satisfies a biological need
Conditioned reinforcer
A stimulus that gains its reinforcing power through its association with a primary reinforcer (secondary reinforcer)
Reinforcement schedule
A pattern that defines how often a desired response will be reinforced
Continuous reinforcement
Reinforcing the desired response every time it occurs
Partial (intermittent) reinforcement
Reinforcing a response only part of the time
Fixed-ratio schedule
A reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response only after a specified number of responses
Variable-ratio schedule
A reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response after an unpredictable number of responses
Fixed-interval schedule
A reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response only after a specified time has elapsed
Variable-interval schedule
A reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response at unpredictable time intervals
Punishment
An event that tends to decrease the behavior that it follows
