Chapter 04 - Reinforcement (pt. 1)

Reinforcement

process by which a behavior is strengthened by the immediate consequence that reliably follows its occurrence - results in behavior occurring more in the future

1. Occurrence of a behavior

2. Behavior followed by an immediate consequence 

3. Behavior more likely to occur in future

Main components of reinforcement

Positive reinforcement

behavior is strengthened by the addition of a stimulus/increase in intensity of a stimulus

Positive reinforcer

something pleasant, desirable, valuable that a person will try to obtain

Premack principle

type of positive reinforcement in which the opportunity to engage in a high-probability behavior is made contingent on the occurrence of a low probability behavior to increase the low probability behavior 

• Ex: child going outside to play only if they do their homework before going outside

Negative reinforcement

behavior is strengthened by the removal of an aversive stimulus/decrease in intensity of a stimulus

Aversive stimulus

something unpleasant, painful, or annoying that a person will try to avoid

Functional definition

reinforcement is always defined by the effect it has on the behavior

1. What is the behavior? 

2. What happened immediately after the behavior? (add/subtract stimulus?)

3. What happened to behavior in the future (was it strengthened?)

Three questions asked when assessing if a situation illustrates positive or negative reinforcement

Social reinforcement

behavior produces a reinforcing consequence through the actions of another person

Automatic reinforcement

behavior produces a reinforcing consequence through direct contact w/ the physical environment

Escape behavior

the occurrence of a behavior results in termination of an aversive stimulus that was already present when the behavior occurred

Avoidance behavior

the occurrence of a behavior prevents an aversive stimulus from occurring in the first place

negative

Both escape and avoidance behaviors are types of ________ reinforcement

Conditioned reinforcer

reinforcers that are learned; a neutral stimulus is paired with an unconditioned reinforcer/already established conditioned reinforcer and consequently functions as a reinforcer itself 

• Examples include money, parents attention (associated w/ food, warmth, etc), pavlov’s dogs

Unconditioned reinforcers

reinforcers that are innate; they require no prior experience in order for them to function as reinforcers - they have biological importance

• Examples include food, water, and sexual stimulation

Generalized conditioned reinforcer

a conditioned reinforcer is paired w/ a wide variety of other reinforcers, such as money or praise

Consequence

A stimulus or event that follows and strengthens a behavior

Social reinforcement examples

• Positive ex - asking your roommate to get you a bag of chips and they do - you're more likely to ask for a bag a chips

• Negative ex - asking roommate to turn down TV volume and they do

Automatic reinforcement examples

• Positive ex - getting chips yourself 

• Negative ex - turning TV down yourself

Satiation

occurs when a person has recently consumed a large amount of a reinforcer (food/water) or had substantial exposure to a reinforcing stimulus and, as a result, these reinforcers are less potent at that time

Deprivation

a type of EO that increases the effectiveness of most unconditioned reinforcers and some conditioned reinforcers

• a reinforcer such as food/water is more appealing to someone who is hungry/thirsty vs. someone who isn't