3.9 reinforcement + punishment

operant conditioning

type of learning in which behavior is strengthened or weakened by consequences => reinforcement

the law of effect

behaviors followed by favorable outcomes are more likely to be repeated and vice versa

reinforcement

“repeat”: consequences that increase likelihood of that behavior occurring again

primary reinforcers

things we naturally like (food, water)

secondary reinforcers

things we learn to like because they’re connected to primary reinforcers (money, grades, trophies)

reinforcement discrimination

ability to distinguish between different stimuli and respond appropriately

reinforcement generalization

tendency to respond similarly to different stimuli that are associated with the same reinforcement

positive reinforcement

presenting a desirable stimulus after a behavior so that the behavior happens again

negative reinforcement

removing a bad stimulus after a behavior so that that behavior happens again

punishment

consequence to decrease likelihood of a behavior

positive punishment

adding a bad stimulus after a behavior to decrease a behavior

negative punishment

removing a good stimulus after a behavior to decrease that behavior

shaping

gradually reinforcing behaviors that are close to developing into the desired behavior

instinctive drift

animals may go back to their natural instincts instead of operant conditioning

superstitious behavior

accidental reinforcement of behaviors → belief that those behaviors are causing desired outcomes even when they’re not

reinforcement schedules

determines when and how often reinforcement is given for a behavior

continuous reinforcement

reinforces behavior every time it occurs

partial reinforcement

reinforcing a behavior only some of the time → slower extinction of the behavior

fixed interval

reinforcement is delivered after a fixed amount of time has passed since the last reinforcement

variable interval

reinforcement is delivered after varying amounts of time has passed since the last reinforcement

fixed ratio

reinforcement delivered after a fixed number of responses → high rate of response

variable ratio

reinforcement delivered after a unpredictable number of responses → high and steady rate of responding with minimal pauses

scalloped pattern

occurs when responses start slowly, then increase in speed