Operant Conditioning

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Questions and Answers

How does Thorndike's Law of Effect differ from classical conditioning?

It posits that behaviors are shaped by their impact on the environment, whereas classical conditioning centers on associating stimuli to elicit involuntary responses. (correct)
It focuses on involuntary behaviors influenced by stimuli preceding the behavior, while classical conditioning emphasizes voluntary behaviors influenced by consequences.
It suggests that behaviors are primarily influenced by cognitive processes, whereas classical conditioning relies on reflexive responses.
It asserts that behaviors are learned through observation and imitation, while classical conditioning involves direct reinforcement or punishment.

Why is the 'Skinner box' considered a refinement of Thorndike's puzzle box?

It more closely mimics natural environments, providing greater ecological validity compared to the artificial setup of the puzzle box.
It focuses on creating aversive stimuli to eliminate behaviors, while the puzzle box aimed solely to reinforce behaviors.
It allows for more precise control over the experimental conditions, enabling the continuous monitoring and recording of behavior in a controlled environment. (correct)
It introduces cognitive elements, allowing animals to develop problem-solving strategies that were not possible in the puzzle box.

In operant conditioning using a Skinner box, what implications would a delay between lever pressing and food pellet delivery have?

It could lead to the animal associating the food pellet with other incidental behaviors or stimuli, thus reducing the effectiveness of the reinforcement. (correct)
It would have no effect on the learning process, as long as the food pellet is delivered eventually.
It would increase the rate of lever pressing as the animal learns to associate the action with the delayed reward more strongly.
It would cause the animal to engage in more complex sequences of behaviors to bridge the time gap, enhancing learning efficiency.

Which strategy would be most effective to teach a dog how to fetch a specific toy by name using shaping?

Start by rewarding the dog for any movement toward any toy, then gradually only rewarding closer approximations to picking up the correct toy, and finally only reward when the dog brings the specific toy when named.. (A) Signup and view all the answers

How might shaping be used to train a person to overcome public speaking anxiety?

By starting with small, manageable steps such as practicing in front of a mirror, then a friend, then a small group, rewarding each step with positive feedback and relaxation techniques. (B) Signup and view all the answers

How do reinforcement and punishment interact to shape behavior over time?

Reinforcement increases the likelihood of a behavior, while punishment decreases it; their combined effects create a balance that refines behavior based on environmental demands. (B) Signup and view all the answers

Imagine a scenario where a child is consistently praised for completing their homework but is occasionally scolded for not doing it well enough. How might this affect their learning behavior?

The child might become anxious about homework, potentially leading to inconsistent effort due to the combination of positive reinforcement and punishment. (C) Signup and view all the answers

Why is it crucial to avoid long delays between a behavior and its consequence (reinforcement or punishment) in operant conditioning?

Long delays make it difficult for the individual to associate the consequence with the specific behavior, reducing the learning effect and possibly leading to unintended associations. (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is the problem with having to wait until the behavior is exhibited before reinforcing?

If you want to teach a complex behavior you can't just reinforce it you break up final behavior that you want break into pieces (successive approximation) and reinforce those along the way. (A) Signup and view all the answers

Successive approximations are used to train behaviors by?

Breaking up a complex behavior into smaller parts and reinforcing increasingly better attempts at behavior. (C) Signup and view all the answers

According to Skinner, what is considered the primary determinant of behavior?

Environmental consequences (A) Signup and view all the answers

Consider a child who is given a cookie every time they say 'please.' Over time, the child starts using 'please' more often. Which concept does this illustrate?

Reinforcement (B) Signup and view all the answers

In the context of operant conditioning, how would you differentiate between the effects of reinforcement and punishment on behavior?

Reinforcement increases the likelihood of a behavior, while punishment decreases it. (D) Signup and view all the answers

How would B.F. Skinner describe how behavior is primarily controlled?

Behavior is controlled by the environmental consequences. (D) Signup and view all the answers

Regarding 'Shaping', why can't a complex, final behavior be reinforced right from the start?

Learners may not yet exhibit the full behavior. (B) Signup and view all the answers

In operant conditioning, what role does 'punishment' play in modifying behavior?

Punishment is a response that decreases the probability of a behavior occurring again. (C) Signup and view all the answers

If a behavior is reinforced using positive reinforcement, what outcome can be expected?

The behavior will likely increase in frequency. (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is shaping in the context of operant conditioning?

The process of reinforcing behaviors that more closely resemble the desired behavior. (C) Signup and view all the answers

How do environmental consequences influence behavior, according to B.F. Skinner's perspective?

Environmental consequences can influence behavior by reinforcement and punishment. (C) Signup and view all the answers

What might be an advantage of using 'shaping' rather than waiting for a final target behavior to occur before reinforcement?

Shaping allows for the training of complex behaviors that the learner might not spontaneously perform. (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is instrumental conditioning?

Another name for Operant Conditioning. (A) Signup and view all the answers

Why do you need to break up the final behavior when using shaping?

If the target behavior is too complex, the learner may not spontaneously perform it. (B) Signup and view all the answers

What does the definition of Reinforcement state?

The probability that the behavior will occur. (C) Signup and view all the answers

What does 'successive approximations' mean in the process of shaping?

Responses that are increasingly similar to the desired response. (C) Signup and view all the answers

When shaping is used to modify behaviors, what outcomes are expected?

Changing behaviors involves reinforcing responses that are increasingly similar to the target behavior. (C) Signup and view all the answers

If the consequence of behavior is reinforcement, what will happen?

The pobability that behavior will occur. (A) Signup and view all the answers

How would you accurately describe B.F. Skinner's behavioralism?

Behavior is controlled by the environment. (D) Signup and view all the answers

In Thorndike's Law of Effect, what determines if an organism will produce a behavior?

Only on the effect the behavior has on the environment. (D) Signup and view all the answers

When is the best time to use 'shaping'?

When a learner won't do the expressed complex behavior from the start. (D) Signup and view all the answers

Why is patience important in operant conditioning?

Because it can take time to perform and learn new behaviors, patience is require to achieve a desired behavior. (C) Signup and view all the answers

Why would a parent praise their child when they say please?

Because the child used appropriate behavior and now reinforcement will likely make the behavior occur again. (D) Signup and view all the answers

In Operant conditioning, what occurs after the animal presses the bar inside a Skinner Box?

The receive food pellet(reinforcer). (D) Signup and view all the answers

In what ways does Thorndike's Law of Effect provide a framework for understanding how the consequences of our everyday actions shape our future behaviors?

It highlights that behaviors leading to positive outcomes are more likely to be repeated, while those leading to negative outcomes are less likely to occur, gradually shaping our habits and preferences. (B) Signup and view all the answers

What key distinction differentiates operant conditioning from classical conditioning?

Operant conditioning involves voluntary behavior and reinforcement, while classical conditioning involves affect and involuntary behavior. (A) Signup and view all the answers

How does shaping work to establish a desired behavior?

It reinforces close approximations of a desired behavior so that it is more likely for the behavior to occur. (C) Signup and view all the answers

How does the use of 'successive approximations' aid in the learning of complex behaviors?

By simplifying the learning of complex tasks, using small sequential steps of the process. (B) Signup and view all the answers

How do the effects and consequences shape our behavior?

By shaping positive steps, and habits. (C) Signup and view all the answers

How does the concept of 'instrumental conditioning' build upon the principles of Thorndike's Law of Effect?

It extends the Law of Effect by incorporating detailed schedules of reinforcement and punishment to precisely control behavior. (D) Signup and view all the answers

In what critical aspect does B.F. Skinner's 'radical behaviorism' differ from earlier behavioral theories?

Radical behaviorism asserts every behavior is fully controlled by an individual's history of consequences. (C) Signup and view all the answers

What fundamental challenge does 'shaping' address in operant conditioning, and how does it overcome this challenge?

Shaping addresses the issue of organisms not spontaneously exhibiting complex target behaviors by reinforcing successive approximations. (D) Signup and view all the answers

How would the effectiveness of operant conditioning be affected if the organism's ability to perceive the relationship between its actions and the delivery of reinforcement were impaired?

Operant conditioning would be completely ineffective because an inability to associate actions with consequences would prevent learning. (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is a key difference between how Thorndike and Skinner approached studying animal behavior?

Thorndike analyzed problem-solving, whereas Skinner looked at controlled, repetitive actions. (A) Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Operant Conditioning

Also known as instrumental conditioning. Focuses on how the consequences of a behavior influence future occurrences of that behavior.

Law of Effect (Thorndike)

The principle that behaviors followed by favorable consequences become more likely, and behaviors followed by unfavorable consequences become less likely.

Puzzle Box

A device Thorndike used to study operant conditioning, where cats had to learn how to escape from a box.