pysc exam 3 - operant conditioning & observational learning

What is operant conditioning? What is being associated?

Learning in which a behavior is more likely to reoccur if followed by a reinforcer/less likely to occur if followed by a punisher; associating a voluntary behavior with its consequences

What is Thorndike’s Law of Effect?

Principle that behaviors followed by favorable consequences become more likely & behaviors followed by unfavorable consequences become less likely

What did B.F. Skinner do?

Coined the term operant conditioning, expanded on Thorndike’s Law of Effect in experiments, and used a operant chamber/Skinner box

What is an operant chamber/Skinner box?

A chamber containing a bar/key that an animal can manipulate to obtain food/water reinforcer

What is reinforcement?

Any event that strengthens & maintains the behavior it follows

What is positive reinforcement?

Increasing behaviors by presenting a pleasurable stimulus

What is negative reinforcement?

Increasing behaviors by stopping/reducing an aversive stimulus

What is punishment?

An event that tends to decrease/weaken/reduce the behavior that it follows

What is positive punishment?

Decreases behaviors by producing/administering an aversive stimulus

What is negative punishment?

Decreasing behaviors by withdrawing a rewarding stimulus

What are the rules for real world operant conditioning?

-Reinforcement/punishment must immediately follow behavior

-Select an appropriate reinforcer/punisher (“know your audience”)

-Be consistent with reinforcing/punishing

-Reinforce desired behavior whenever possible (punishment has side-effects & only suppresses behavior)

What is continuous reinforcement? What is it’s main characteristic?

Reinforcing desired response every time it occurs; both learning & extinction occur rapidly

What is partial/intermittent reinforcement? What is it’s main characteristic?

Reinforcing a response only part of the time; slower acquistition but greater resistance to extinction (because of hope)

What is a fixed-ratio schedule? What is the outcome? What’s an example?

Reinforces response only after a specified # of responses; high response rate & post-reinforcement pause; ex: rewards programs

What is a variable-ratio schedule? What is the outcome? What’s an example?

Reinforces a response after unpredictable # of responses (# varies around average); hard to extinguish & no post-reinforcement pause; ex: slot machines

What is a fixed-interval schedule? What is the outcome? What’s an example?

Reinforces a response only after a specific time has elapsed; more frequent responding as time for reward gets closer & post-reinforcement pause; waiting for the mail

What is a variable-interval schedule? What is the outcome? What’s an example?

Reinforces a response at unpredictable time intervals (varies around average); produces slow, steady responding; waiting for the cable guy

When are response rates highest?

When reinforcement is linked to the ratio (#) of responses

What is observational learning?

Learning by observing others

What is preparedness?

Biological predisposition to learning associations that have a survival value (ex: taste aversion)

What does vicarious reinforcement & punishment help us do?

Anticipate behavior’s consequence in situation without experiencing it firsthand

What happened in the Bobo doll experiment?

Children observed an adult hit, kick, throw, and yell at a Bobo doll to relieve anger. Then the researchers placed the child in a room with appealing toys, but told the child they couldn’t play with them and moved them into a room with fewer toys & the Bobo doll. The child then mimicked, or “modeled” the adults behavior and lashed out at the doll, even repeating the same words and actions.

What is modeling?

The process of observing & imitating a specific behavior