Week 5 Positive & Negative Reinforcement and Extinction

Vocabulary flashcards covering Chapters 4 & 5 on positive and negative reinforcement, schedules of reinforcement, motivating operations, behavioral principles, and extinction procedures.

Classical Conditioning

Also known as Pavlovian or Respondent conditioning; a learning process involving stimulus-stimulus associations.

Operant Conditioning Consequences Matrix

A 2x2 framework classifying behavioral consequences into positive reinforcement, positive punishment, negative reinforcement, and negative punishment based on whether a stimulus is added or removed and whether the behavior increases or decreases.

Positive Reinforcement

A consequence procedure where a stimulus (positive reinforcer) is added or presented following a behavior, increasing the future likelihood of that behavior.

Negative Reinforcement

A consequence procedure where an aversive stimulus (negative reinforcer) is removed or terminated following a behavior, increasing the future likelihood of that behavior.

Positive Punishment

A consequence procedure where a stimulus is added or presented following a behavior, decreasing the future likelihood of that behavior.

Negative Punishment

A consequence procedure where a stimulus is removed following a behavior, decreasing the future likelihood of that behavior.

Antecedent

A stimulus or event that directly precedes the occurrence of a behavior, serving as a prompt or cue.

Discriminative Stimulus ($SD$)

An antecedent stimulus that signals that a specific type of reinforcement or consequence is available for a behavior.

Behavior

An overt or covert action, thought, or emotion exhibited by an individual.

Consequence

A stimulus or event that directly follows a behavior, functioning to reinforce, maintain, or punish the behavior.

A-B-C Model

A behavioral framework that tracks the Antecedent (stimulus preceding behavior), Behavior (thoughts, emotions, overt actions), and Consequence (stimulus following behavior that reinforces or maintains it).

Skinner's Three-Term Contingency

The basic unit of operant conditioning consisting of a Discriminative Stimulus ($SD$), Response ($R$), and Reinforcer ($S^R$).

Operant Behavior

A behavior or group of similar behaviors strengthening through reinforcement and controlled by its consequences.

Escape Behavior

A behavior that results in the termination of an ongoing negative reinforcer or aversive stimulus, strengthening the future occurrence of the behavior.

Avoidance Behavior

A behavior that prevents or delays the onset of a negative reinforcer or aversive stimulus before it is presented, strengthening the behavior.

Two Ways to Reinforce

Behavior can be reinforced either by presenting a positive stimulus (present) or by removing an aversive stimulus (remove).

Positive Reinforcer

The specific stimulus presented or increased following a behavior in a positive reinforcement contingency.

Negative Reinforcer

The aversive stimulus that is removed or decreased following a behavior in a negative reinforcement contingency.

Unconditioned Reinforcers

Biologically determined stimuli with primary survival value, such as food, water, oxygen, human contact, and escape from physical pain or heat.

Conditioned Reinforcers

Previously neutral stimuli that function as reinforcers after being repeatedly paired with established unconditioned or conditioned reinforcers.

Conditioned Generalized Reinforcers

Conditioned reinforcers that have been paired with a wide variety of other reinforcers, such as money, praise, and tokens.

Immediacy

The principle that a reinforcer is most effective when delivered immediately after the target behavior occurs.

Contingency

An 'If-Then' relationship between a response and a consequence where the consequence is presented if and only if the behavior occurs.

Motivating Operations (MOs)

Antecedent conditions that temporarily alter the potency, value, or effectiveness of a reinforcer.

Establishing Operation (EO)

An antecedent event that temporarily increases the effectiveness of a stimulus as a reinforcer and increases behaviors associated with contacting that stimulus.

Abolishing Operation (AO)

An antecedent event that temporarily decreases the effectiveness and potency of a stimulus as a reinforcer.

Fixed Ratio (FR) Schedule

A schedule of reinforcement where a reinforcer is delivered after a set, unchanging number of responses, producing high response rates and a post-reinforcement pause.

Ratio Strain

A disruption in responding caused by increasing the response requirement on a ratio schedule too rapidly.

Variable Ratio (VR) Schedule

A schedule of reinforcement where a reinforcer is delivered after an average number of responses, producing a high rate of responding with no post-reinforcement pause.

Fixed Interval (FI) Schedule

A schedule of reinforcement where a reinforcer is provided for the first response after an unchanging period of time, producing a low rate of responding that increases near the end of the interval.

Variable Interval (VI) Schedule

A schedule of reinforcement where a reinforcer is provided for the first response after an average time interval, producing a low but steady rate of behavior.

Concurrent Schedules of Reinforcement

Reinforcement schedules that exist simultaneously for two or more different behaviors.

Matching Law

The principle stating that when concurrent-interval schedules are available, the relative rate of response equals the relative rate of reinforcement.

Behavioral Momentum

The persistence of behavior in the presence of a stimulus despite disruptive factors or the availability of alternative reinforcers.

High-Probability (High-p) Request Sequence

A procedure where several high-probability requests are issued in rapid succession before issuing a low-probability request, increasing compliance.

Premack Principle

The principle stating that the opportunity to engage in a high-probability behavior can be used to reinforce the performance of a low-probability behavior.

Contingency-Shaped Behavior

Operant behavior directly under the control of active contingencies of reinforcement.

Rule-Governed Behavior

Behavior controlled by a verbal statement (a rule) describing a contingency between a behavior and a consequence.

Extinction

A procedure where a previously reinforced behavior is no longer followed by the reinforcing consequence, resulting in the weakening and cessation of the behavior.

Extinction Burst

A temporary increase in the frequency, duration, intensity, novel behaviors, or emotional/aggressive behaviors when reinforcement is stopped.

Spontaneous Recovery

The reoccurrence of a previously extinguished behavior after time has passed, usually at a lower rate or intensity.

Escape Extinction

A variation of extinction applied to negatively reinforced behavior, where the aversive stimulus is no longer removed following the behavior.