Untitled Flashcards Set

Operant Conditioning

Learning process where behavior is modified by its consequences.

Reinforcement

Any consequence that strengthens or increases the likelihood of a behavior occurring again.

Punishment

Any consequence that decreases the likelihood of that behavior occurring again.

Law of Effect

Principle that behaviors followed by positive consequences are more likely to be repeated, and behaviors followed by negative consequences are less likely to be repeated.

Primary Reinforcer

A stimulus that naturally satisfies a basic biological need.

Secondary Reinforcer

A stimulus that gains its reinforcing power by being associated with a primary reinforcer.

Positive Reinforcement

Strengthens a behavior by adding something pleasant.

Negative Reinforcement

Strengthens a behavior by removing something unpleasant.

Positive Punishment

Something unpleasant is added to stop a behavior.

Negative Punishment

Something pleasant is removed to stop a behavior.

Continuous Reinforcement

Schedule where a reward is given every single time a desired behavior is exhibited.

Partial Reinforcement

Schedule where a reward is given occasionally, not every single time.

Fixed Ratio (FR)

Reward is given after a set number of times an action is performed.

Variable Ratio (VR)

Reward is given after a random number of times a behavior is performed.

Fixed Interval (FI)

Reward is given after the same amount of time every time.

Variable Interval (VI)

Reward is given at a random amount of time.

Shaping

Reinforcing behaviors that gradually get closer to a desired target behavior.

Chaining

Shaped behaviors are linked together to reach the targeted behavior.

Discrimination

The ability to distinguish between stimuli and respond only to the discriminative stimulus.

Generalization

The tendency to respond in the same way to different but similar stimuli.

Instinctive Drift

The tendency for an animal to revert back to its natural, instinctual behaviors.

Superstitious Behavior

A learned behavior that occurs when an action is accidentally reinforced, regardless of its causal relationship to the outcome.

Learned Helplessness

Psychological state where an individual believes they are powerless to change their situation.

Schedules of Reinforcement

The importance of how often behavior is reinforced or punished.

Successive Approximations

Rewarding steps that progressively get closer to the desired final behavior.

Reinforcement Schedule

Plan that dictates how often the reinforcement is given.

Behavior Modification

The use of operant conditioning techniques to increase or decrease a particular behavior.

Behavior Extinction

The diminishing of a conditioned response when reinforcement ceases.

Conditioned Response

A learned response to a previously neutral stimulus.

Operant Behavior

Behavior that is controlled by its consequences.

Behavioral Shaping Techniques

Techniques used to gradually teach complex behaviors through reinforcement of successive approximations.

Complex Behavior Acquisition

Learning process that involves breaking down complex behaviors into simpler components.

Positive Outcome Expectation

The belief that a behavior will lead to favorable results.

Negative Outcome Expectation

The belief that a behavior will lead to unfavorable results.

Behavior Flexibility

The ability to adapt behavior in response to changing reinforcement patterns.