3.8 test

Operant Conditioning

A type of learning in which a behavior becomes more likely to recur if followed by a reinforcer or less likely to recur if followed by a punisher.

Law of Effect

Thorndike’s principle that behaviors followed by favorable consequences become more likely, and behaviors followed by unfavorable consequences become less likely.

Operant Chamber

A chamber used in operant conditioning research, containing a bar or key an animal can manipulate to obtain a food or water reinforcer.

Reinforcement

Any event in operant conditioning that strengthens the behavior it follows.

Shaping

An operant conditioning procedure in which reinforcers guide behavior toward closer and closer approximations of the desired behavior.

Discriminative Stimulus

A stimulus in operant conditioning that elicits a response after association with reinforcement.

Positive Reinforcement

Increasing behaviors by presenting a pleasurable stimulus.

Negative Reinforcement

Increasing behaviors by stopping or reducing an aversive stimulus.

Primary Reinforcer

An innately reinforcing stimulus, such as one that satisfies a biological need.

Conditioned Reinforcer

A stimulus that gains its reinforcing power through its association with a primary reinforcer.

Continuous Reinforcement Schedule

Reinforcing the desired response every time it occurs.

Partial (Intermittent) Reinforcement Schedule

Reinforcing a response only part of the time; results in slower acquisition of a response but greater resistance to extinction.

Fixed-Ratio Schedule

Reinforces a response only after a specified number of responses.

Variable-Ratio Schedule

Reinforces a response after an unpredictable number of responses.

Fixed-Interval Schedule

Reinforces a response only after a specified time has elapsed.

Variable-Interval Schedule

Reinforces a response at unpredictable time intervals.

Punishment

An event that tends to decrease the behavior it follows.

Positive Punishment

Decreases behavior by presenting an aversive stimulus.

Negative Punishment

Decreases behavior by removing a rewarding stimulus.

Instinctive Drift

The tendency of learned behavior to gradually revert to biologically predisposed patterns.

Biological Constraints

Natural predispositions that affect operant conditioning.

Acquisition

The initial stage of learning when a response is first established.

Extinction

The diminishing of a conditioned response when reinforcement no longer follows.

Spontaneous Recovery

The reappearance, after a pause, of an extinguished conditioned response.

Generalization

The tendency to respond to stimuli similar to the conditioned stimulus.

Discrimination

The ability to distinguish between different stimuli.