Learning 4: Basic Principles of Operant Conditioning

Delayed Punishment

longer the delay = the less effective the punishment; increase effectiveness through severity

Extinction

When reinforcements stop

Schedules of reinforcement

organisms responds in the pattern with which reinforcement appeared

Interval Schedules

based on time intervals between reinforcements: fixed and variable

Ratio Schedules

based on the ratio of responses to reinforcements: fixed, variable, intermittent

Shaping

results of reinforcement of successive steps to a final desired behaviour; successive approximation

Superstitious behaviour

rare of odd behaviours may be repeated if they are accidentally reinforced, leading to mistaken beliefs

Edward Tolman

saw operant conditioning as a means-end relationship

Latent learning

something is learned but not manifested as a behavioural change until sometime in the future

Cognitive map

mental representation of the physical features of the environment

James Olds

pleasure centres: parts of the brain located in the limbic system

Dopamine

linked with expectation of reward, wants, cravings instead of the reward itself