PSYC2050 LECTURE 4

Flashcards covering key concepts and principles of operant conditioning as discussed in Lecture 4.

What is the central principle of operant conditioning?

Consequences lead to changes in voluntary behaviors.

Who is the key figure associated with operant conditioning?

B.F. Skinner.

What does shaping refer to in operant conditioning?

A means to gradually develop a new behavior through successive approximations.

What are the two classifications of consequences in operant conditioning?

Positive and negative; reinforcement and punishment.

What are the two main types of conditioning compared in the lecture?

Classical Conditioning and Operant Conditioning.

What is the Law of Effect?

Responses followed by satisfaction are more likely to recur.

What is the main difference between Pavlovian and Operant conditioning?

Pavlovian conditioning relies on reflexive associations, while operant conditioning is based on consequences of actions influencing future behavior.

What are the four types of reinforcement schedules mentioned?

Continuous, fixed ratio, variable ratio, fixed interval, variable interval.

What is positive reinforcement?

Adding something to increase a behavior.

What is negative reinforcement?

Removing something to increase a behavior.

What is the purpose of a Skinner Box?

To study operant conditioning by providing a controlled environment for animals to learn through reinforcement.

What is superstitious behavior as described in the lecture?

Behavior that occurs due to a belief that it causes a reward, even if there is no actual connection.

What is shaping in the context of teaching new behavior?

Selective reinforcement of behaviors resembling the desired target behavior.

What is backward chaining?

Starting with the final behavior in a chain to teach a complex behavior.

What are positive and negative punishment?

Positive punishment adds something to decrease behavior; negative punishment removes something to decrease behavior.

How do drive, size, and delay affect reinforcement?

Higher drive makes reinforcement more effective; larger rewards can enhance learning, and immediate rewards are more effective than delayed rewards.

What is the three-term contingency in operant conditioning?

It consists of the discriminative stimulus, the operant response, and the outcome.

What is stimulus control in operant conditioning?

It occurs when behavior is regulated by the presence of a specific stimulus.

What is stimulus discrimination?

The ability to differentiate between different stimuli affecting particular responses.

What is the overall goal of operant conditioning?

To modify behavior through reinforcement and punishment.