Ch 6 Vid 5 Principles of Reinforcement

Operant Conditioning

A learning process where the consequences of a behavior affect the likelihood of that behavior being repeated.

Reinforcement

Any stimulus that increases the likelihood of a behavior occurring.

Primary Reinforcer

A stimulus that is naturally reinforcing without prior learning, such as food and water.

Secondary Reinforcer

A conditioned stimulus that gains reinforcement value through association with primary reinforcers.

Generalized Reinforcer

A type of secondary reinforcer that is associated with multiple primary reinforcers, such as money.

Timing of Reinforcement

The importance of when reinforcement is provided in relation to the behavior that it aims to strengthen.

Learned Industrious Theory

The idea that consistent reinforcement for hard work creates intrinsic value in the work itself.

Token Economy

A behavioral system where individuals earn tokens for desirable behaviors, which can be exchanged for primary reinforcers.

Delayed Reinforcement

A situation where there is a time gap between the behavior and the reinforcement, which can reduce the effectiveness of the reinforcer.

Contingency

The relationship between a behavior and its consequences, often crucial for the learning process.