psych, learning reinforcement and punishment

operant conditioning

a type of learning in which behavior is strengthened or weakened by consequences such as reinforcement or punishment

law of effect

Behaviors followed by favorable outcomes are more likely to be repeated, while behaviors followed by unfavorable outcomes are less likely to be repeated

reinforement

any consequence that increases the likelihood of a behavior occurring again in the future

primary reinforcer

things we naturally like such as food and water

secondary reinforcer

things we learn to like because they’re connected to primary reinforcers or other things we like

reinforcement discrimination

the ability to distinguish between different stimuli and respond appropriately based on the presence or absence of reinforcement

reinforcement generalization

the tendency to respond similarly to different stimuli that are associated with the same reinforcement

positive reinforcement

increase behavior, adding a desirable stimulus to increase the likelihood of a behavior recurring

negative reinforcement

increase behavior, removing an aversive stimulus to increase the likelihood of a behavior recurring

positive punishment

decrease behavior, adding a aversive stimulus to increase the likelihood of a behavior recurring

negative punishment

decrease behavior, removing a desirable stimulus to increase the likelihood of a behavior recurring

shaping

gradually reinforcing behaviors that are closer and closer to the desired behavior, leading to the development of a complex behavior or skill

instinctive drift

animals may go back to their natural instincts instead of learning new behaviors through training (operant conditioning)

superstitious behavior

accidental reinforcement of behaviors, leading to the belief that those behaviors are causing desired outcomes even when they are not

reinforcement schedules

patterns determining when and how often reinforcement is given for a behavior, influencing the rate and persistence of that behavior

continuous reinforcement

reinforcing a behavior every time it occurs

partial reinforcement

reinforcing a behavior some of the time

fixed interval (FI)

reinforcement is delivered after a fixed amount of time has passed since the last reinforcement, leading to a consistent pattern of behavior

variable interval (VI)

Reinforcement is delivered after varying amounts of time have passed since the last reinforcement, leading to a steady but moderate rate of responding

fixed ratio (FR)

reinforcement is delivered after a fixed number of responses, leading to a high rate of responding with short pauses after each reinforcement

variable ratio (VR)

Reinforcement is delivered after a varying number of responses, leading to a high and steady rate of responding with minimal pauses