Shaping, Reinforcement Schedules, and Biological Limits

ch 6 psy 21 exam 2

Shaping

reinforcing successive approximations towards a desired behavior

Premack Principle

using a more preferred activity to reinforce a less preferred activity

Law of Effect

behaviors followed by satisfying consequences become more likely to recur

Fixed-Ratio Schedule

reinforcement follows a predictable number of responses

Variable Ratio Schedule

reinforcement follows an unpredictable number of responses

Fixed Interval Schedule

reinforcement becomes avilable after a fixed amount of time

Variable Interval Schedule

reinforcement becomes avilable after varying amounts of time

Instinctive Drift

a tendency for learned behavior to shift toward species-typical instincive behavior

Shaping rewards steps toward…

a goal rather than waiting for perfect performance