Behaviorism

behaviorism

the study of how behavior is learned

classical conditioning

learning to associate two stimuli to anticipate an event

operant conditioning

learning to associate a response and consequence (rewards increase behavior, punishment decrease behavior)

why is conditioning important

helps an animal survive and reproduce

higher order conditioning

conditioned stimuli is paired w/ a new stimulus and it creates a second (often weaker) conditioned stimulus

discrimination

discerning between two different stimuli

generalization

grouping stimuli together

BF Skinner

created operant chamber, shaping action towards behavior

thorndike law of effect

states that behaviors followed by favorable outcomes are more likely to be repeated

operant chamber

controlled environment used to study animal behavior through reinforcement

reinforcers

strengthens proceeding response

positive reinforcer

adding something desireable

negative reinforcer

removing something undesireable

punishments

consequence that decreases the frequency of the behavior

positive punishment

introduce an aversive (unpleasant) stimulus

negative punishment

withdraw desirable stimulus

problem with punished behavior

suppressed, not forgotten, teaches fear, models aggression

schedules of reinforcement

rules that determine how and when reinforcement is delivered for a behavior

continuous reinforcement

behavior is rewarded each time —> behavior goes extinct more quickly

partial reinforcement

rewarded on set schedule or intervals

fixed ratio

a set of number of responses gives reward (response radio is rapid w/ brief pause after every reward)

variable ratio

an unpredictable ratio of responses (rapid and consistent response rate)

fixed interval

a set amount of time gives reward (response rate will be steady)

variable interval

unpredictable amount of time needs to pass (response rate is slow and steady)

observational learning

humans learn through watching/imitating others

mirror neurons

neurons that fire in your brain as if you’re doing it, assist with empathy

prosocial behavior

positive, constructive behavior

antisocial behavior

destructive or harmful behavior

desensitization

show in research that repeated exposure fosters indifference to sexual abuse, violence, etc.