Reinforcement in Behavior Analysis

These flashcards cover key concepts related to reinforcement from the lecture notes.

Reinforcement (Sr)

Presentation or removal of a stimulus following a response which increases (or maintains) the future frequency of that response.

Positive Reinforcement (Sr+)

Involves adding an appetitive stimulus to increase the frequency of a response.

Negative Reinforcement (Sr-)

Involves removing an aversive stimulus to increase the frequency of a response.

Automatic Reinforcement

Reinforcement that occurs when the behavior itself is reinforcing.

Socially-mediated Reinforcement

Reinforcement that depends on another person delivering it.

Discriminated Operant

The three-term contingency involving an antecedent (SD), a response, and a consequence (SR+).

Motivating Operations (MOs)

Factors that temporarily alter the value of a stimulus and influence behavior.

Four-term Contingency

Includes Motivating Operation, Discriminative Stimulus, Response, and Reinforcer.

Escape Contingencies

Avoidance of an aversive stimulus by performing a response.

Punishment

An aversive event presented contingent on behavior that results in a decrease of that behavior.

Unconditioned Reinforcers

Reinforcers that function due to heredity or evolution.

Conditioned Reinforcers

An initially neutral stimulus that acquires reinforcing properties through pairing association with other reinforcers.

Generalized Conditioned Reinforcers

Type of conditioned reinforcer that has been paired with multiple reinforcers.

Reinforcers by Formal Properties

Categorized as edible, sensory, tangible, activity, and social.

Superstitious Behavior

Behavior that occurs due to accidental reinforcement that was not directly caused by the behavior.

Antecedent variable

Discriminative Stimuli - signaling that reinforcement is available

Single Stimulus

A method of assessment or reinforcement where an individual is exposed to one stimulus at a time to determine preference or response.

Paired Stimulus (Forced Choice)

A method of assessment or reinforcement where an individual is exposed to two stimulus at a time and create a ranked list (hierarchy) from most to least preferred

Multiple Stimulus with Replacement

A method of assessment or reinforcement where an individual is exposed with multiple items and the chosen item (along with unchosen ones) is put back into the array for the next trial

Multiple Stimulus without Replacement

A method of assessment or reinforcement where an individual is exposed with multiple items and the chosen item (along with unchosen ones) is taken away and not put back in the array for the next trial

Rule Governed Behavior

Behavior that is not learned by any exposure to contingencies. Verbal or written instructions (rules) rather than direct experience with consequences. No immediate consequence is apparent.