Flashcards Psychology: Operant Conditioning, Reinforcement & Punishment

What is operant conditioning?

A type of associative learning in which voluntary behavior is shaped by its consequences.

What are the two main types of consequences in operant conditioning?

Reinforcement and punishment.

What is reinforcement?

Any event that strengthens the behavior it follows.

What is punishment?

Any event that tends to decrease the behavior that it follows.

What is primary reinforcement?

Reinforcement that fulfills a basic drive.

What is secondary reinforcement?

Reinforcement that involves everything else beyond basic drives.

What does the Law of Effect state?

Reinforcement strengthens behavior, while punishment weakens behavior.

Who is associated with the Law of Effect?

Edward Thorndike.

What is positive reinforcement?

Involves adding a desired stimulus after a voluntary behavior.

What is negative reinforcement?

Involves removing an undesired stimulus after a voluntary behavior.

What is positive punishment?

Involves adding an undesired stimulus after a voluntary behavior.

What is negative punishment?

Involves removing a desired stimulus after a voluntary behavior.

How does reinforcement affect behavior?

It increases the likelihood of the behavior happening again.

How does punishment affect behavior?

It decreases the likelihood of the behavior happening again.

What is a discriminative stimulus?

A cue or signal that indicates a specific consequence for a particular behavior.

Give an example of a discriminative stimulus.

A doorbell, the sound of a notification on a cell phone, or red traffic lights.

What is the effect of positive reinforcement on behavior?

It strengthens behavior by providing something the individual likes.

What is the effect of negative reinforcement on behavior?

It strengthens behavior by removing something the individual dislikes.

What is the effect of positive punishment on behavior?

It weakens behavior by adding something unpleasant.

What is the effect of negative punishment on behavior?

It weakens behavior by taking away something desirable.

What happens when class participation increases to avoid a quiz?

It exemplifies negative reinforcement.

What happens when class participation increases after being praised?

It exemplifies positive reinforcement.

What happens when a phone is not used in class after being taken away?

It exemplifies negative punishment.

What happens when a phone is not used in class after being yelled at?

It exemplifies positive punishment.