CHYS Test 2

1. (L) Using definitions from the textbook and/or lecture, distinguish between conditioned and unconditioned reinforcers. Give two examples of each.

Conditions reinforcers are stimuli that are reinforcing without prior learning or conditioning and condition reinforcers are stimuli that were not originally reinforcing but have become reinforced by being paired or associated with other reinforcers. Unconditioned: food (reinforces eating behaviour because of biological hunger), water (naturally reinforces behaviours that restore breathing in low-air) Conditioned: praise, tokens/stickers, money, arcade tokens. The system

2. Explain what a backup reinforcer is. Give and explain two examples.

The backup reinforcer is when a stimulus becomes conditioned reinforcer through deliberate association with other reinforcers. (eg. Arcade prizes, favourite toy)The reward

3. What were the backup reinforcers in Erin’s program? State a target behavior of yours that you would like to improve that would be amenable to a points program like Erin’s. Write out a menu specifying the backup reinforcers for the points.

Backup reinforcers were time on social media. More time studying =more time watching tv. 1 hour extra studying=one extra episode. 2=2 etc

4. What are tokens? Explain in two or three sentences what a token economy is.

Tokens are condition reinforces that can be accumulated in exchange for backup reinforcers a behavior modification program in which individuals can earn tokens for specific behaviors and can cash in their tokens for backup reinforces called token system or token economy

5. (L) Using definitions from the textbook and/or lecture, distinguish between a simple conditioned reinforcer and a generalized conditioned reinforcer. Explain why a generalized conditioned reinforcer is more effective than a simple conditioned reinforcer.

A condition reinforcer that is paired with a single backup reinforcer is called a simple condition reinforcer the sound of the ice cream vendor's bell was a simple condition reinforcer in contrast the stimulus that is paired with more than one kind of backup reinforcers called generalized condition reinforcer a common example is praise a mother who expresses pleasure at her child's behavior is disposed to smell like or play with the child sometimes a tree toy or other things the child enjoys ray and company the mother's praise normally praise is established as a generalized condition reinforcer during childhood but it continues to be maintained as one for adults. MORE EFFECTIVE BECAUSE paired with multiple backup reinforcers rather than just one

6. Give two examples of stimuli that are conditioned reinforcers but not tokens. Explain why they are conditioned reinforcers, and why they are not tokens.

CR: previously neutral stimulus, gains ability to strengthen behaviour because it has been repeatedly paired with other established reinforcers. Token: can be accumulated or exchanged later for backup reinforcers. CR Examples: praise, hearing "dinner is ready"

7. Describe three factors that influence the effectiveness of conditioned reinforcers.

A conditioned reinforcer should be a stimulus that can be managed and administered easily in the situations in which you plan to use it. For example, points were ideally suited for Aaron's program. 2. As much as possible use the same condition reinforces of the individual will encounter in the natural environment. For example, it is desirable in training programs to transfer control from artificial tokens to the monetary economy of the natural environment or to naturally receive praise and attention from others. Three period in the early stages of establishing condition reinforcer, a backup reinforcer should be presented as quickly as possible after the presentation of the conditioned reinforcer. Later, schedule thinning should occur in which either a, the delay between the condition reinforcer and the backup reinforcer is increased gradually or B, the amount of behavior is adjusted for each token is gradually increased

8. Explain what causes a conditioned reinforcer to lose its value.

For condition reinforcer to remain effective it must eh, at least occasionally, continue to be paired with a suitable backup reinforcer. An example of the token economy described previously called if the teacher discontinued the backup reinforcer for the stamped happy faces, the children will eventually stop engaging in the behavior for which they receive this damned happy faces

9. Describe two pitfalls of conditioned reinforcement, and give an example of each.

unaware misapplication pitfall (When someone is unfamiliar with a behavioral principle and unknowingly applies it in a way that accidentally strengthens an undesirable behavior instead of stopping it, ex. The adult intends for the scolding to act as a punishment to stop the behavior, but the child is actually craving attention. Because the reprimand comes with eye contact, physical proximity, and verbal engagement, it functions as a positive reinforcer, making the child more likely to misbehave again to get that attention) and partial knowledge misapplication pitfall (When someone understands a behavioral concept (such as using tokens or conditioned reinforcers) but fails to apply a crucial rule—specifically, stopping the pairing of the conditioned reinforcer with a real backup reinforcer, ex. Over time, the teacher stops letting students redeem the stamps for actual rewards (backup reinforcers). As a result, the stamped happy faces lose their association with anything valuable and completely lose their reinforcing power.)