6.6 - Reinforcement and Consequences

law of effect - behavior with favorable consequences tends to be repeated, and behavior with unfavorable consequences tends to disappear

respondent behavior - automatic reactions to stimuli, or stimulus-response

operant behavior - behaviors that are learned and occur when we "operate on” the environment to produce desired consequences

positive reinforcement - the process of strengthening a behavior by contingently presenting something appealing

negative reinforcement - the process of strengthening a desired behavior by contingently withdrawing something displeasing

punishment - the process of weakening behavior through either the contingent presentation of something displeasing or the contingent withdrawal of something positive

extinction - weakening a behavior by ignoring it or making sure it is not reinforced

continuous reinforcement - a reinforcement schedule in which every instance of a target behavior is reinforced

intermittent reinforcement - a reinforcement schedule in which some but not an instances of a target behavior are reinforced