operant conditioning

What is operant conditioning?

• a type of learning that occurs through the reinforcement/punishment of that consequences of an individual’s action

What is positive reinforcement?

• when something is added to increase the likelihood of a behaviour

• e.g. giving the rat food every time it presses the lever

What is negative reinforcement?

• when something is removed to increase the likelihood of a behaviour

• e.g. electric shock turns off if they press the lever

What is positive punishment?

• when something is added to decrease the likelihood of a behaviour

• e.g.

What is negative punishment?

• when something is removed to decrease the likelihood of a behaviour

What is discrimination?

• when stimuli to the original CS doesn’t produce the CR

• can be achieved by with holding the UCS (e.g. food) when the similar stimulus is used

What is extinction?

• when the CR (e.g. salivating) isn’t produced as a result of the CS (e.g. bell)

• happens when the CS is repeatedly presented without the UCS (e.g. food) following it

What is spontaneous recovery?

• when a previously extinct CR is produced in response to the CS

• happens when the CS is presented again after a period of time during which its not been used

What is higher order conditioning?

• when a new CS (e.g. a light) produces the CR because the animal associates it with the original CS

• can be achieved by consistently presenting the new CS before the original CS