7B- Operant Conditioning

operant conditioning

a type of learning in which behavior is strengthened if followed by a reinforcer or diminished if followed by a punisher

law of effect

Thorndike's principle that behaviors followed by favorable consequences become more likely, and that behaviors followed by unfavorable consequences become less likely

Reinforcement

in operant conditioning, any event that strengthens the behavior it follows

shaping

an operant conditioning procedure in which reinforcers guide behavior toward closer and closer approximations of the desired behavior

positive reinforcement

the use of a pleasant stimulus to encourage a desired behavior.

negative reinforcement

removing an unpleasurable stimulus to encourage a behavior

primary reinforcer

an innately reinforcing stimulus, such as one that satisfies a biological need

secondary reinforcer

a stimulus that gains its reinforcing power through its association with a primary reinforcer (ex. money)

reinforcement schedule

a pattern that defines how often a desired response will be reinforced

continous reinforcement schedule

reinforcing the desired response every time it occurs

partial reinforcement schedule

reinforcing a response only part of the time; results in slower acquisition of a response but much greater resistance to extinction than does continuous reinforcement (also called intermittent reinforcement)

fixed-ratio schedule

in operant conditioning, a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response only after a specified number of responses

variable-ratio schedule

in operant conditioning, a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response after an unpredictable number of responses

fixed-interval schedule

in operant conditioning, a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response only after a specified time has elapsed

variable-interval schedule

in operant conditioning, a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response after an unpredictable amount of time

positive punishment

adding an undesirable stimulus to decrease a behavior

negative punishment

removing a desirable stimulus to decrease a behavior

Instinctive Drift

an animal's tendency to revert to instinctive behaviors despite having been trained to perform a different behavior through reinforcement

Superstitious Behavior

a belief in or practice of actions or objects that are believed to bring good or bad luck, or to have magical powers