Operant conditioning key words

Operant conditioning meaning

Learning through consequences, when people act in a particular way and are rewarded for it they will repeat it and if they are punished for it they will stop

Reinforcement meaning

behaviour is followed by and event which increases the likelihood of the behaviour being repeated.

Positive reinforcement meaning

Something good introduces after behaviour (e.g- food) increases likelihood of behaviour (like bribary)

negative reinforcement meaning

Take something bad away after a bad behaviour (e.g- seatbelt beeping noise)

primary reinforcer meaning

Has a biological significance e.g- food/shelter.

Secondary reinforcer meaning

Associated with the primary reinforcer (e.g- money/coffee stamps)

punishment

Repetition of behaviour should stop

positive punishment meaning

Something bad is introduced following a behaviour (e.g- shouting)

negative punishment meaning

something good is taken away (e.g- ipad)

schedules of reinforcement meaning

when and how often we reinforce behaviour can have an effect on strength and rate of response

fixed interval meaning

response rewarded after certain amount of time

variable interval meaning

when a response is rewarded after an unpredictable amount of time.

fixed ratio meaning

response is reinforced after a certain number of responses

variable ratio meaning

response is reinforced after an unpredictable number of responses

behavioural modification (shaping) meaning

The idea behind it is to:

• Extinguish undesirable behaviour (by removing reinforces)

• replace original behaviour with a desirable one

What is token economy

Tokens are given for desirable behaviour which can then be exchanged for something