Operant Conditioning

reinforcement

a consequence that increases the likelihood that a behavior will occur again

punishment

a consequence that decreases the likelihood that a behavior will occur again

primary reinforcement

a reinforcing stimulus that relies on an innate biological need

secondary reinforcement

a reinforcing stimulus that is learned through association with a biological need

positive reinforcement

the introduction of a pleasant stimulus to increase the likelihood that a behavior will occur again

negative reinforcement

the removal of an unpleasant stimulus to increase the likelihood that a behavior will occur again

positive punishment

the introduction of an unpleasant stimulus to decrease the likelihood that a behavior will occur again

negative punishment

the removal of a pleasant stimulus to decrease the likelihood that a behavior will occur

reinforcement discrimination

the ability to recognize the difference between situations and whether or not a behavior will be reinforced

reinforcement generalization

the tendency for a behavior learned in one situation to occur in a separate, but similar, situation

continuous reinforcement

reinforcement schedule that reinforces every instance of a behavior