Operant Behavior Flashcards

Questions and Answers

What is Respondent Behavior?

Unlearned responses based on genetic endowment, serving to regulate and protect the organism.

What determines the rate of Respondent Behavior?

The rate of the eliciting stimulus.

What is Skinner's Three-term Contingency?

Input - Process - Output

Behavior - Consequence - Trigger

Antecedent - Behavior - Consequence (correct)

Stimulus - Response - Reward

What did B.F. Skinner discover in 1938?

Operant conditioning, emphasizing that behavior is controlled by the environment. Signup and view all the answers

What is Experimental Analysis of Behavior (EAB)?

The study of respondent and operant behavior influenced by consequences. Signup and view all the answers

What is a Stimulus?

Any condition, event, or change in the physical world that affects behavior. Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of an Antecedent Stimulus?

It sets the occasion for a response. Signup and view all the answers

What is a Consequence in operant behavior?

An outcome that occurs after a behavior, which can be a reinforcer or a punisher. Signup and view all the answers

How is Operant Behavior defined?

Behaviors that operate in the environment to generate consequences. Signup and view all the answers

What does Ontogeny refer to?

Behavior shaped by an individual's environment. Signup and view all the answers

What does the Thorndike Law of Effect state?

Behaviors followed by satisfying outcomes are more likely to recur. Signup and view all the answers

What is a Primary Unconditioned Reinforcer?

Stimuli or events that function as reinforcers without requiring pairing. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Respondent Behavior

Unlearned responses shaped by genetic factors, serving to regulate and protect organisms.
Conditioned and altered through experience; consistent across species.
Examples include blinking, salivating, and pupil reactions.
Response rate is tied to the frequency of the eliciting stimulus; responses do not occur without the stimulus.

Skinner's Discovery

Introduced the concept of the Three-term Contingency: Antecedent → Behavior → Consequence.
Behavior is influenced by environmental factors, shaping learning processes.

B.F. Skinner

Renowned psychologist (1904-1990), pioneered operant conditioning in 1938 at Harvard.
Demonstrated how behavior can be influenced and modified by environmental factors.

Experimental Analysis of Behavior (EAB)

Differentiates between respondent (reflex) and operant behavior (impacted by consequences).
Established a methodological framework for behavioral studies.

Stimulus

Defined as any condition or event in the environment (e.g., light, sound, texture).
Stimuli can influence behavior differently, possessing physical properties.
Occurs in relation to target behavior, before, during, and after the response.

Antecedent Stimulus

Also known as an antecedent, it "sets the occasion" for a response in operant conditioning.
Example: A professor asking a question creates an opportunity for student engagement.

Consequence

Refers to outcomes following behavior; impacts future behavior.
Reinforcer (SR) increases future behavior; can be positive or negative.
Punisher (SP) decreases future behavior; can also be positive or negative.

Operant Behavior

Defined as behaviors that produce consequences in the environment.
Dynamic in nature, responding to shifts in environmental conditions.
Influenced significantly by personal (ontogenic) history.

Ontogeny

Development of behavior shaped predominantly by environmental factors.
Example: Young seagulls learning to hunt through experience.

Operant Behavior Example

Interaction with a professor leads to an increase in hand-raising when reinforced by attention.
Demonstrates the principle of reinforcement enhancing future behavior.

A,B,C Model

Represents the relationship: Stimulus (A) → Response (B) → Reinforcement (C).
Facilitates understanding of behavior modification.

Operant Conditioning

The process of manipulating consequences to alter behavior.
Involves direct relationships between stimulus, response, and resultant outcomes.

Free Operant

Refers to behaviors that can occur at any time, requiring minimal time to complete.
Examples include social behaviors and reading.

Restricted Operant

Rates of occurrence controlled by available opportunities to respond.
Commonly seen in structured activities like tests and flashcard games.

Respondent vs. Operant Behavior

Respondent behavior is elicited by antecedents and has biological origins.
Operant behavior is influenced by consequences and is under the control of discriminative stimuli.

Behavior Description

Two main descriptors: Topography (physical form) and Function (impact on the environment).

Thorndike's Law of Effect

Illustrates trial-and-error learning: a hungry cat increasingly escapes a box when motivated by food outside.
Reinforces the principle that successful behaviors are repeated.

Stimulus Class

A group of antecedent stimuli that elicit the same response from an organism.

Respondent Class

General category for behaviors that produce consequences within the environment.

Primary Unconditioned Reinforcer

Biological stimuli/events that inherently function as reinforcers without prior learning.

Description

Explore the concepts of operant behavior with these flashcards. Each card provides key terms and definitions to help you understand basic psychological principles. Ideal for students looking to reinforce their knowledge of operant conditioning.