AP Psych: Unit 6 Operant Conditioning

AP Psychology Topic 3.8

Operant Conditioning

Learning through rewards and punishments

The Law of Effect

Behaviors followed by positive outcomes are treated; those with negative outcomes are not

Reinforcement vs. Punishment

Reinforcement increased behavior; punishment decreases it

Positive Reinforcement

Adding something good to increase behavior

Negative Reinforcement

Removing something bad to increase behavior

Positive Punishment

Removing something good to decrease behavior

Primary Reinforcers

Naturally rewarding (e.g., food, water)

Secondary Reinforcers

Learned rewards (e.g., money, praise)

Reinforcement Discrimination

Learning to respond only to a specific stimulus for reinforcement

Reinforcement Generalization

Responding similarly to different but related stimuli

Shaping

Reinforcing small steps toward a desired behavior

Instinctive Drift

Learned behavior reverting to natural instincts

Superstitious Behaviors

Repeating actions mistakenly linked to rewards

Learned Helplessness

Giving up after repeated failures or lack of control

Schedules of Reinforcement

Rules for when behavior is reinforced

Continuous vs. Partial

Continuous = Every time; Partial = Sometimes

Fixed Ratio

Reward after a random number of responses

Fixed Interval

Reward after a set time

Variable Interval

Reward after a random time

Graph Pattern of Responses

Fixed Interval, Fixed Ratio, Variable Ratiom and Variable Interval

Fixed Interval (FI)

Scalloped pattern (slow, then fast near reward time)

Fixed Ratio (FR)

Stair-step pattern (quick bursts then pause)

Variable Ratio (VR)

Steady, high response rate (gambling)

Variable Interval (VI)

Slow, steady response rate