Operant Conditioning Flashcards

Flashcards about Operant Conditioning

What is operant conditioning?

Behavior is emitted by the person and operates on the environment; learning occurs by the outcome of the behavior.

According to B.F. Skinner, what influences behavior repetition?

Behavior is more likely to be repeated if the consequences are favorable.

What effect does reinforcement have on behavior?

Following a response, it increases the tendency to make that response.

What effect does punishment have on behavior?

An event following a response reduces the tendency to make that response.

What is positive reinforcement?

Administering a rewarding stimulus after a desired behavior, increasing the likelihood to repeat behavior.

What is negative reinforcement?

Removing an unpleasant stimulus when a desired behavior occurs.

What is positive punishment?

Administering an unpleasant stimulus to decrease a behavior.

What is negative punishment?

Taking away a pleasant stimulus to decrease a behavior.

What is extinction in operant conditioning?

Gradual weakening of a behavior by stopping reinforcement or punishment.

What are primary reinforcers?

Stimuli that are inherently reinforcing because they satisfy biological needs.

What are secondary reinforcers?

Previously neutral stimuli acquire qualities by being associated with primary reinforcers.

What is intrinsic reinforcement?

Reinforcement from within self (i.e., achievement).

What is extrinsic reinforcement?

Reinforcement from external sources (i.e., money, food).

What is shaping?

Reinforcement of successive approximations to the desired response.

What is forward chaining?

Begins with the first element, progress to the last.

What is backward chaining?

Starting with the last element, helpful if there is low motivation.

What is spontaneous recovery?

Sudden reappearance of behavior in the absence of reinforcement.

What is generalization?

Learned behavior that occurs to similar stimuli.

What is discrimination?

Behavior is performed in the presence of certain stimuli but not for other cues.

What is a schedule of reinforcement?

Determines the frequency with which responses are reinforced.

What are the two main types of reinforcement schedules?

Continuous (every instance) and intermittent (sometimes).

What are the four types of intermittent reinforcement schedules?

Fixed ratio, variable ratio, fixed interval, and variable interval.