operant conditioning psychology

behaviorism

the view that psychology(1) should be an objective science that (2) studies behavior without reference to mental processes.

Most research psychologists today agree with (1) but not with (2).

Most research psychologists today agree with (1) but not with (2).

unconditioned stimulus (UCS)

Stimulus that naturally/ automatically triggers a response.

Unconditioned response (UCR)

A natural response to a unconditioned stimulus

conditioned stimulus (CS)

a formally neutral stimulus now triggers a conditioned response

conditioned response (CR)

A learned response to a previously neutral stimulus

acquisition

initial learning of an association

extinction

The weakening and disappearance of a learned behavior

spontaneous recovery

the reappearance of a weakened conditioned response

stimulus generalization

stimuli similar to the initial conditioned stimuli evoke a similar response

stimulus discrimination

the learned ability to distinguish between a conditioned stimulus and similar stimuli

BF skinner

the behaviorist that developed operant conditioning

positive reinforcement

increasing behavior by presenting a pleasurable stimulus

negative reinforcement

Increasing behavior by removing an aversive/annoying stimulus

punishment

an event that decreases the behavior that it follows

primary reinforcers

an unleaded reinforcing stimulus that satisfies a biological need

secondary reinforcers/ conditioned reinforcers

A type of reinforcer that gets its power through learned association with primary reinforcers

fixed ratio schedule

reinforces behavior after a set number of responces

variable ratio schedule

reinforces behavior after a unpredictable number of responces

fixed interval schedule

reinforces a response after a set time period

variable interval schedule

reinforcement after varying time intervals

reinforcement schedules

a pattern that defines how often a desired response will be reinforced

prosocial learning

positive, constructive, helpful behavior. The opposite of antisocial behavior

TV and observational learning

learning by observing others

vicarious reinforcement

observer sees the model rewarded, making the observer more likely to imitate the model's behavior

vicarious punishment

observer sees the model punished, making the observer less likely to imitate the model's behavior