5. Operant Learning Part 1

Who mentored Edward Thorndike during his graduate studies?

William James, a prominent American psychologist known for Functionalism.

What is Thorndike's Law of Effect?

Organisms will repeat behaviors that lead to a satisfying state of affairs and resist those that lead to an annoying state of affairs.

What are the four key elements of the Law of Effect?

The context of the behavior, the behavior itself, the change in the environment following the behavior, and the change in behavior produced by the consequence.

What did B.F. Skinner believe about free will?

He considered free will to be an illusion and believed human actions depend on the consequences of previous actions.

What is the principle articulated by B.F. Skinner?

The Principle of Reinforcement, which explains how consequences strengthen or weaken behavior.

What is Operant Learning?

A learning process where behavior operates on the environment, leading to consequences that reinforce or punish the behavior.

What is the Skinner Box used for?

To study Operant Learning in a controlled laboratory environment.

What are the four types of Operant Learning identified by Skinner?

Positive Reinforcement, Negative Reinforcement, Positive Punishment, and Negative Punishment.

What are the three characteristics of reinforcement?

A behavior must have a consequence, the behavior must increase in strength, and the increase must arise from the consequence.

How is the effectiveness of Operant Learning typically measured?

By the frequency or probability of the behavior.

What are Primary or Unconditioned Reinforcers?

Reinforcers that fulfill a biological need and are not dependent on another reinforcer.

What are Secondary or Conditioned Reinforcers?

Reinforcers that acquire their reinforcing properties through association with another reinforcer.

What is the difference between Natural and Contrived Reinforcers?

Natural Reinforcers follow automatically from the behavior, while Contrived Reinforcers are arranged by someone to modify behavior.

What does the term 'Contingency' refer to in Operant Learning?

The degree of correlation between a behavior and its consequence.

What is 'Contiguity' in the context of Operant Learning?

The delay between a behavior and its reinforcing consequence; shorter delays lead to faster learning.

What factors can affect Operant Learning?

Contingency, contiguity, reinforcer characteristics, behavior characteristics, and motivating operations.

What is an Establishing Operation?

An operation that increases the effectiveness of a consequence, whether it is a reinforcer or a punisher.

What is an Abolishing Operation?

An operation that decreases the effectiveness of a consequence, whether it is a reinforcer or a punisher.

How can previous learning experiences affect Operant Learning?

Past reinforcement or punishment of behaviors can interfere with the effectiveness of new reinforcers on similar behaviors.

What role do competing contingencies play in behavior?

At any given time, individuals have choices between multiple reinforcement contingencies, which can influence behavior.