Operant Conditioning

Operant Conditioning

A type of learning where behavior is strengthened by reinforcers or diminished by punishers.

Thorndike’s Law of Effect

Behaviors followed by favorable consequences increase in likelihood, while those followed by unfavorable consequences decrease.

Positive Reinforcement

Adding a desirable stimulus to increase the likelihood of a behavior.

Negative Reinforcement

Removing an aversive stimulus to increase the likelihood of a behavior.

Positive Punishment

Adding an aversive stimulus to decrease a behavior.

Negative Punishment

Removing a desirable stimulus to decrease a behavior.

Limitations of Punishment

Can cause fear or aggression, does not teach alternative behaviors, and effects may be temporary.

Skinner Box

A chamber used to study operant conditioning with animals.

Superstitious Behavior

Behavior that is accidentally reinforced, leading to a false belief of causing the reinforcement. (wearing a luck cloth)

Shaping

Gradually guiding behavior toward a desired goal by reinforcing successive approximations.

Primary Reinforcer

A naturally reinforcing stimulus that satisfies biological needs.

Conditioned (Secondary) Reinforcer

A stimulus that does not associate with biological need (e.g., money, praise).

Cognitive Map

A mental representation of one’s physical environment.

Latent Learning

a form of learning where an individual or animal acquires knowledge or skills without a clear reward or reinforcement, and then exhibits that knowledge or skill later when there's a motivation or need to do so.

Overjustification Effect

When external rewards decrease intrinsic motivation.

Premack Principle

A preferred activity can reinforce a less preferred activity.

Cognitive Processes of Operant Conditioning

Internal processes like expectations influencing how organisms respond to consequences.

Biological Predispositions of Operant Conditioning

Organisms are inclined to learn some behaviors more easily than others.

Schedules of Reinforcement

Rules for how and when reinforcement is delivered.

Continuous Reinforcement

Reinforcing the desired response every time it occurs.

Partial (Intermittent) Reinforcement

Reinforcing a response only part of the time.

Fixed-Ratio Schedule

Reinforcement after a set number of responses.

Variable-Ratio Schedule

Reinforcement after a varying number of responses.

Fixed-Interval Schedule

Reinforcement after a set amount of time.

Variable-Interval Schedule

Reinforcement at unpredictable time intervals.

Observational Learning

Learning by observing and imitating the behavior of others.

Modeling

The process of observing and imitating specific behavior.

Prosocial Behavior

Positive, constructive, helpful behavior.

Antisocial Behavior

Negative, harmful behavior.

Mirror Neurons

Neurons that fire during actions and observation, enabling imitation.

Albert Bandura’s Bobo Doll Study

An experiment demonstrating the power of observational learning and modeling.