PSYB38 - Reinforcement

Reinforcement

the process in which the occurrence of a behaviour is followed by a consequence that results in an increase in the future probability of the behaviour

Consequence

the stimulus or event occurring immediately after a behaviour

Operant behaviour

behaviour that acts on the environment to produce an immediate consequence and in turn is strengthened by that consequence

Reinforcers

a stimulus or event that increases the future probability of a behaviour when it occurs contingent on the occurrence of the behaviour

Positive Reinforcemen

a type of reinforcement in which, contingent ton the behaviour, an aversive stimulus or event is presented and the probability of behaviour decreases in future

Negative Reinforcement

a type of punishment in which the occurrence of a behaviour is followed by the removal of a reinforcing stimulus

o   Results in the decrease in the future probability of the behaviour

Stimulus

an environmental event that can be detected by one of the senses

Positive Reinforcer

a stimulus that will increase the future probability of a behaviour when the stimulus I delivered contingent on the occurrence of the behaviour

Aversive Stimulus

a stimulus that will decease the future probability of a behaviour when the stimulus is delivered contingent on the occurrence of the behaviour

aka a punisher

Social Reinforcement Positive

when a positively reinforcing consequence is delivered by another person after the target behaviour and as a result the behaviour is more likely to occur

Social Reinforcement Negative

when another person terminates an aversive terminates, task or activity after the occurrence of a target behaviour and as a result the behaviour is more likely to occur

Automatic Reinforcement

a form of reinforcement in which the behaviour produces a reinforcing consequence through direct contact with the physical environment

Escape Behaviour

behaviour that results in the termination of an aversive stimulus

o   Termination of the aversive stimulus negatively reinforces the behaviour

Avoidance Behaviour

a component of the habit reversal procedure in which the person is taught to identify each instance of a particular habit behaviour as it occurs

Unconditioned Reinforcers

a stimulus that naturally reinforcing because the capacity for our behaviour to be strengthened by the stimulus has survival value

o   No prior conditioning is necessary

Conditioned Reinforcer

A previously neutral stimulus that has been paired a number of times with an established reinforcers and consequently functions a reinforcer itself

Token

something that can be given to another person and accumulated by that person

Backup Reinforcers

reinforcers used in a token economy

o   Client receives tokens for desirable behaviours and exchanges a specified number of tokens for any variety of backup reinforcers

Generalized Conditioned Reinforcer

a conditioned reinforcer that has been paired with a variety of other reinforcers

Rule-governed Behaviour

behaviour that is controlled by a verbal statement about a contingency between the behaviour and a consequence

Motivating Operations

an antecedent stimulus or event that alters the value of the reinforcer and alters the probability of the behaviour that produces that reinforcer

Establishing Operation

an event that increases the potency of a particular reinforcer at a particular time and evokes the behaviour that produces the reinforcer

o   one type of motivating operation

Abolishing Operations

an event that decreases the potency of a particular reinforcer at a particular time and makes the behaviour that produces that reinforcer less likely to occur

o   one type of motivating operation.

Deprivation

a condition in which the person has gone without a particular reinforcer for a period of time

o   Type of establishing operation

o   Makes the reinforcer the person has gone without more portent

Satiation

progressive loss of effectiveness of a reinforcer

o   Occurs when you have a recently consumed a large amount of a particular reinforces or when you have has substantial exposure to a reinforcing stimulus

Schedule of Reinforcement

specifies which response will be followed by delivery of reinforcer

o   in a continuous reinforcement every response is followed by the reinforcer

o   in an intermittent reinforcement  not every response is followed by the reinforcer

Continuous Reinforcement Schedule

a schedule of reinforcement in which each instance of the behaviour is followed by the reinforcement

Intermittent Reinforcement Schedule

a schedule of reinforcement in which not every instance of behaviour is followed by the delivery of reinforcer

Acquisition

the development of a new behaviour through reinforcement

Maintenance

continuation of the behaviour change for a long period after the termination of a behaviour modification program

o   Also continuation of an operant behaviour with intermittent reinforcement

Fixed Ratio Schedule

a schedule of reinforcement in which a specific number of responses must occur before the reinforcer is delivered

Variable Ratio Schedule

a schedule of reinforcement in which a specified number of responses is needed for the delivery of the reinforcer

Fixed Interval Schedule

a schedule of reinforcement in which the reinforcer is delivered for the first response that occurs after an interval of time has passed

Variable Interval Schedule

a schedule of reinforcement in which the first response that occurs after a specified time interval that varies around an average value

Concurrent Schedules of Reinforcement

schedules of reinforcement that exist at the same time for 2 or more different behaviours.

o   Which particular behaviour occurs at a particular time depends on the schedule of reinforcement, magnitude of reinforcement, delay of reinforcement, and response conditioning

Concurrent Operants

two or more different behaviours or response options are concurrently available for the person

Response Effort

the amount of force, exertion or time involved in executing a response

Combined Schedule of Reinforcement

a schedule arrangement that combines two or more basic schedules of reinforcement

Multiple Schedule of Reinforcement:

two basic schedules of reinforcement occur sequentially and each is associated with a different stimulus

Behavioural Contrast

occurs when a change in the reinforcement schedule in one component of a multiple schedule changes not only the rate of responding that component but also changes the rate of responding in the opposite direction in the other component of the multiple schedule