Operant Conditioning

Operant Conditioning

A type of learning in which behavior is strengthened if followed by a reinforcer or diminished if followed by a punisher

Law of Effect

Thorndike's principle that behaviors followed by favorable consequences become more likely, and that behaviors followed by unfavorable consequences become less likely

Operant Chamber

A chamber also known as a Skinner box, containing a bar or key that an animal can manipulate to obtain a food or water reinforcer, with attached devices to record the animal's rate of bar pressing or key pecking. Used in operant conditioning research.

Reinforcement

in operant conditioning, any event that strengthens the behavior it follows

Shaping

an operant conditioning procedure in which reinforcers guide behavior toward closer and closer approximations of the desired behavior

Discriminative Stimulus

a stimulus that elicits a response after association with reinforcement

Positive Reinforcement

Increasing behaviors by presenting positive stimuli, such as food. A positive reinforcer is any stimulus that, when presented after a response, strengthens the response.

Negative Reinforcement

Increasing behaviors by stopping or reducing negative stimuli, such as shock. A negative reinforcer is any stimulus that, when removed after a response, strengthens the response. (Note: negative reinforcement is not punishment.)

Primary Reinforcers

Events that are inherently reinforcing because they satisfy biological needs (i.e. food, water)

Conditioned Reinforcers

a stimulus that gains its reinforcing power through its association with a primary reinforcer; also known as a secondary reinforcer (i.e. money-associated with primary reinforcer of food)

Schedules of Reinforcement

different patterns of frequency and timing of reinforcement following desired behavior

Continuous Reinforcement

the reinforcement of each and every correct response

Intermittent Reinforcement

an operant conditioning principle in which only some of the responses made are followed by reinforcement

FIxed Ratio Schedules

in operant conditioning, a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response only after a specified number of responses

Variable Ratio Schedules

in operant conditioning, a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response after an unpredictable number of responses

Fixed Interval Schedules

in operant conditioning, a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response only after a specified time has elapsed

Variable Interval Schedules

in operant conditioning, a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response at unpredictable time intervals

Punishment

an event that tends to decrease the behavior that it follows

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