Psychology Exam 3 Flashcards

Operant Reinforcement (Learning via consequences)

Discovered by BF Skinner — behavior is selected for or against on the basis of reinforcement and punishment

Learning

A change in behavior from interacting with ones’ environment

Reinforcement v. Punishment (Operant Consequences)

Successful behaviors are likely in similar environments; unsuccessful behaviors are less likely in similar environments.

Example of Reinforcement v. Punishment

I am likely to study when I sit at my desk, because when I finish I hear a nice sound from my timer; I am unlikely to not study when I’m at my desk, because I’ll hear the sound and feel guilty for not studying.

Classifying reinforcement

First term →
If consequence is added: positive
If consequence is removed: negative

Second term →
If consequence increases behavior: reinforcement
If consequence decreases behavior: punishment

Efficacy of reinforcement of punishment

Immediacy is vital to ensure a direct link of the behavior to a consequence

Observational learning

Learning via imitation — example is the Bobo Doll video via Albert Bandura. For example, a child sees a man beat up a doll, then they see a doll and beat it up.

Shaping

Reinforcing behaviors that approximate to the desired behavior (think of hot and cold, you say, hot, hotter, etc)

Continuous Reinforcement (FR 1)

After a response — get consequence that increases behavior. Very good for establishing/learning behavior; best for shaping

Intermittent Reinforcement

Not every behavior/response is reinforced — there’s a schedule!

Intermittent reinforcement schedule

First term →
If reinforcement happens regularly: Fixed
If reinforcement happens irregularly: Variable
Irregularity refers to chance — could be tomorrow, could be today.

Second term →
If based on # responses: Ratio
If based on first response after period of time: Interval

Stimulus control

Range of stimuli that evoke response

Operant discrimination

Done by reinforcing in the presence of stimuli; behavior happens for Sd, doesnt for S Delta and Sdp. Sd = reinforcement S delta = extinction Sdp = punishment

Motivating operation

Affects the present effectiveness of a reinforcer or punisher; depends on abolishing operation and establishing operation

Motivating operation types

Establishing operation → Lack of reinforcement makes behavior more likely to occur
Abolishing operation → Desire satiated, behavior becomes less likely to occur

Maslow’s Hierarchy

Base physiological needs must be met before more woo-woo needs like friendship and self-actualization

Intrinisic vs Extrinisic motivation

Intrinisic - Automatic consequences, like feeling good after gaming “for the love of the game”
Extrinisic - Social consequences, from outside (good grades = social approval)

Rewards don’t necessarily reduce intrinisic motivation

Behavior

Anything we do — including thinking or feeling

Overt vs Covert Behavior

Overt is measurable and observable; Covert is not. Covert consists of behaviors like thinking and feeling, Overt is more of the physical behaviors.

Dimensions of behavior

Frequency - # of times
Duration - length of time
Intensity/magnitude - how strongly a behavior occurs
Latency - reaction time to stimulus; how quickly behavior occurs after stimulus

Applied behavior science

An applied science & uses learning research to improve “socially significant” behaviors

Naming Conventions