Behavioral Psychology: Avoidance, Punishment, and Learning Theories

Avoidance behavior

A behavior that is elicited by a conditioned stimulus (CS) and is maintained by negative reinforcement through a reduction in fear.

Classical conditioning

A learning process in which a fear response comes to be elicited by a conditioned stimulus (CS).

Operant conditioning

A learning process in which moving away from the conditioned stimulus (CS) is negatively reinforced by a reduction in fear.

Punishment

A consequence that generates a conditioned emotional reaction, suppressing appetitive behavior and hindering its recovery after withdrawal.

Anxiety conservation hypothesis

The theory that avoidance responses do not extinguish because exposures to the aversive stimulus are too brief for extinction to occur.

One-process theory of avoidance

The theory that avoidance behavior occurs simply to reduce the likelihood of an aversive event, rather than from a reduction in fear.

Learned helplessness

A condition in which an individual learns to feel helpless and stops trying to change a negative situation.

Experimental neurosis

A set of symptoms in experimental animals exposed to unpredictable aversive stimulation, similar to posttraumatic stress disorder in humans.

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

A mental health condition triggered by experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event, characterized by symptoms such as difficulty sleeping and being easily startled.

Salient stimulus

A prominent or noticeable stimulus that can help overcome learned helplessness when presented during an escape response.

Time-out procedure

A disciplinary technique where a child is removed from a situation for a period of time to reduce undesirable behavior.

Response cost procedure

A disciplinary technique that involves removing a privilege or item as a consequence for undesirable behavior.

Premack principle

A principle stating that a more probable behavior can be used to reinforce a less probable behavior.

Learned helplessness research

Studies indicating that individuals with prior successful coping experiences are less likely to become depressed in adverse situations.

Conditioned emotional reaction

An emotional response that is learned through conditioning, often resulting from punishment.

Appetitive behavior

A behavior that is desirable or rewarding, which can be suppressed by punishment.

Fear response

An emotional reaction elicited by a conditioned stimulus, often leading to avoidance behavior.

CS (Conditioned Stimulus)

A stimulus that elicits a conditioned response after being associated with an unconditioned stimulus.

Unpredictable aversive stimulation

A type of negative stimulus that occurs without warning, leading to anxiety and distress.

Clinical depression

A mental health disorder characterized by persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and a lack of interest or pleasure in activities.

Escape response

A behavior performed to avoid or escape an aversive stimulus.

Coping experience

An individual's ability to manage and adapt to stressful or adverse situations.

Negative punisher

Losing your wallet by being careless.

Positive punisher

Getting a shock by being careless.

Negative reinforcement

A reduction in fear that leads to avoidance behavior.

Immediate effect of spanking

Suppressing the behavior of a child, which serves as a negative reinforcer for future spanking.

Spanking a dog

The dog might learn to avoid the owner rather than avoid making a mess.

Beneficial side effects of punishment

Increases in social behavior, improvements in mood, and increased attention.

Difference between OCD and phobia

A phobia usually involves a passive avoidance response, while OCD involves an active avoidance response.

Avoidance theory of punishment

Punishment involves a type of avoidance conditioning where the avoidance response consists of any behavior other than the behavior being punished.

Conditioned suppression theory of punishment

Punishment does not weaken a behavior but produces an emotional response that interferes with the occurrence of the behavior.

Exposure and response prevention (ERP)

A method of treating obsessive-compulsive behavior involving prolonged exposure to anxiety-arousing events without engaging in the compulsive behavior.

Extrinsic punishment

Punishment that is not an inherent aspect of the behavior but results from a separate event following the behavior.

Generalized (or secondary) punisher

An event that has become punishing because it has been associated with many other punishers.

Intrinsic punishment

Punishment that is an inherent aspect of the behavior; the act of engaging in the behavior is itself punishing.

Premack principle of punishment

A high-probability behavior (HPB) can be used to punish a low-probability behavior (LPB).

Primary (or unconditioned) punisher

Any event that is innately punishing.

Response cost

A form of negative punishment involving the removal of a specific reinforcer following the occurrence of a behavior.

Secondary (or conditioned) punisher

An event that has become punishing because it has been associated with some other punisher.

Time-out

A period of time following a problem behavior involving the loss of access to positive reinforcers for a brief period.