Psych: Skinner's Operant Conditioning

Operant Conditioning

The association between a behavior and its consequences is called operant or instrumental conditioning.

Reinforcer

Stimulus that follows a response and increases the likelihood that the response will be repeated. Skinner believed that behavior occurs because it has been reinforced.

Conditioned reinforcer

Reinforcer that gains value from being associated with other things that are valued.

Positive reinforcement

The administration of a stimulus to increase the probability of a behavior’s being repeated. Can be primary or secondary.

Negative reinforcement

The removal of a stimulus to increase the probability of a behavior’s being repeated

Primary reinforcers

Reinforcers that fulfill basic biological needs or desires, such as food and sex, that have an innate basis to an organism

Secondary (conditioned) reinforcers

Stimuli (money or tokens) that acquire their reinforcing power by their learned association with primary reinforcers

Punishment

Eliminates or reduces the frequency of a behavior.

Positive punishment

Eliminates or reduces the frequency of a behavior by using aversive stimulus. (Rat stops pressing food bar if each press results in an electrical shock).

Negative punishment

Reduces behavior by removing something desirable. (Food is not available unless bar is pushed)

The Skinner box

An operant chamber that allowed repeated conditioning trials without requiring interaction from the experimenter. Contained one lever connected to a food supply and another connected to a water supply

Shaping

An operant-conditioning technique that consists of reinforcing behaviors that are increasingly similar to the desired behavior

Successive approximations

Any behavior that even slightly resembles the desired behavior.

Continuous reinforcement

Type of learning in which behavior is reinforced each time it occurs.

Partial reinforcement

Type of learning in which behavior is reinforced intermittently. Effect on conditioning depends on the reinforcement schedule.

Ratio schedule

Reinforcement is based on the number of times the behavior occurs. Generally leads to greater responding than does interval reinforcement.

Interval schedule

Reinforcement is provided after a specific unit of time.

Fixed schedule

Reinforcement is provided after a specific number of occurrences or after a specific amount of time.

Variable schedule

Reinforcement is provided at different rates or at different times.

Fixed interval (FI) schedule

A schedule of reinforcement in which the first response following a specified interval is reinforced.

Variable interval (VI) schedule

A schedule of reinforcement in which the first response following a varying period is reinforced.

Behavior modification

Use of operant-conditioning techniques to eliminate unwanted behaviors and replace them with desirable ones

Token economy

Operate on the principle of secondary reinforcement. Tokens are earned for completing tasks and lost for bad behavior. Tokens can later be traded for objects or privileges.