General Psychology - Lecture 10

Law of Effect (Thorndike)

The tendency of an organism other than produce a behavior depends on the effect the behavior has on the environment

B.F. Skinner

Behavior is controlled by its consequences

“Radical Behaviorism“

Reinforcement

Consequence of behavior that increase the probability that the behavior will occur

Punishment

Consequence of behavior that decreases the probability that he behavior will occur

Shaping

Reinforcing closer and closer approximations of the desired response

Successive Approximations

Response that are increasingly similar to the desired response

Positive Reinforcement

Presentation of a pleasant stimulus behavior —> increase probability of behavior

Negative Reinforcement

Removal of an unpleasant stimulus after a behavior —> increases probability of bahavior

Positive Punishment

Unpleasant stimulus follow behavior —> decrease probability of behavior

Negative Punishment

Removal of pleasant stimulus after a behavior —> decreases probability of behavior

Generalization

After a behavior in reinforced in one situation, it is performed in a different situation

Discrimination

A behavior that reinforced in one situation is not performed in a different situation

Extinction

After the reinforcer is withdrawn, the behavior decreases

Spontaneous Recovery

After extinction, the behavior reappears

Continuous Reinforcement

Consequences are the same each time the behavior occurs

Intermittent (Partial) Reinforcement

Consequences are view only some of the times that behavior occurs

Ratio Schedules of Reinforcement

Reinforcement is given after the behavior is exhibited a certain number of times

Interval Schedules of Reinforcement

Reinforcement is given after a certain amount of time

Fixed-ratio

Reinforcement for a fixed proportion of response emitted

Variable-ratio

Reward for some percentage response, but unpredictable number of responses required before reinforcement

Fixed-interval

Reinforcement for responses after a fixed amount of time

Variable-interval

Reinforcement for responses after an amount of time that is not constant

Extrinsic Motivation

Pursuit of goal for external rewards

Intrinsic Motivation

Pursuit of activity for its own sake

Over-justification Effect

Too music reward —> undermines intrinsic motivation