Operant Conditioning Overview
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Questions and Answers

What is an example of negative reinforcement?

  • Getting scolded for teasing a sibling
  • Cleaning a room to receive an allowance
  • Taking aspirin to eliminate a headache (correct)
  • Facing a time-out for fighting with a classmate

Which of the following describes negative punishment?

  • Fighting with a classmate leading to a time-out (correct)
  • Taking a break from activities due to distractions
  • Cleaning a room to avoid further complaints
  • Teasing a sibling resulting in a scolding

What is a potential consequence of using punishment as a behavioral intervention?

  • It always eliminates the unwanted behavior immediately
  • It can lead to more variable and undesirable behaviors (correct)
  • It improves self-esteem in the individual being punished
  • It consistently results in long-term behavioral change

How should alternative behaviors be reinforced to decrease unwanted behaviors?

<p>The alternative behavior should be incompatible with the unwanted behavior (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which type of operant conditioning involves adding an aversive consequence?

<p>Positive punishment (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What type of reinforcement leads to faster acquisition of a response?

<p>Continuous reinforcement (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which reinforcement schedule requires a specific number of responses before a reinforcer is delivered?

<p>Fixed ratio schedule (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is true about behavior persistence under partial reinforcement?

<p>It allows behavior to persist longer without reinforcement. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which reinforcement schedule is exemplified by being paid for the number of items produced?

<p>Fixed ratio schedule (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which reinforcement results in the highest response rates?

<p>Shorter intervals (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes variable ratio schedules from fixed ratio schedules?

<p>A specific number of average responses are needed for reinforcement. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the outcome of increased variability in partial reinforcement schedules?

<p>More consistent response rates and slower extinction (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why is operant conditioning often considered voluntary behavior?

<p>It depends on an active choice to take action. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What principle explains that actions rewarded are more likely to be repeated?

<p>Law of effect (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which term describes the set of environmental cues in operant conditioning?

<p>Discriminative stimulus (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which type of conditioning focuses on learning behaviors through the consequences of actions?

<p>Operant conditioning (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does reinforcement in operant conditioning do?

<p>Increases likelihood of behavior (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In operant conditioning, what are primary reinforcers?

<p>Stimuli with intrinsic biological value (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is shaping in the context of operant conditioning?

<p>Reinforcing successive approximations to a behavior (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which statement best describes the difference between operant conditioning and classical conditioning?

<p>Outcomes in operant conditioning depend on performing a specific response. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What process involves breaking down a complex behavior into simpler steps for reinforcement?

<p>Chaining (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What effect might a less desirable food reward have on the rate of response in operant conditioning?

<p>Decrease the response rate (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which option accurately represents punishment in operant conditioning?

<p>Delivering an outcome meant to decrease behavior (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Positive Reinforcement

Adding a pleasant outcome to increase or maintain a behavior.

Positive Punishment

Adding an aversive outcome to decrease a behavior.

Negative Reinforcement

Removing an aversive outcome to increase or maintain a behavior.

Negative Punishment

Removing a pleasant outcome to decrease a behavior.

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Differential Reinforcement of Alternative Behaviors (DRA)

A method to decrease unwanted behaviors by reinforcing preferred alternative behaviors.

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Operant Conditioning

Learning to behave based on feedback (rewards and punishments) received for actions.

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Law of Effect

Behaviors followed by positive outcomes become more likely, while those followed by negative outcomes become less likely.

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Reinforcement

Providing outcomes that increase the likelihood of a behavior happening again.

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Punishment

Providing outcomes that decrease the likelihood of a behavior happening again.

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Discriminative Stimulus (Sd)

Environmental cues that signal the possibility of reward or punishment for a particular behavior.

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Primary Reinforcer

A stimulus with intrinsic biological value, such as food or water.

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Secondary Reinforcer

A stimulus that has no intrinsic value but predicts or provides access to primary reinforcers, such as money.

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Shaping

Gradually reinforcing closer approximations of a desired behavior.

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Chaining

Teaching a complex behavior by breaking it down into smaller steps and reinforcing each step.

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Operant vs. Classical conditioning

Operant conditioning: outcome depends on the action taken. Classical conditioning: outcome occurs regardless of the action.

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Immediate reinforcement

When a reward follows a behavior immediately, it leads to faster learning compared to delaying the reward.

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Continuous reinforcement

Every time a desired behavior occurs, it is rewarded. This leads to quick learning but also rapid extinction.

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Partial reinforcement

Only some occurrences of a behavior are rewarded. This makes learning slower but the behavior is more resistant to extinction.

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Fixed ratio schedule

A reward is given after a fixed number of responses.

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Variable ratio schedule

A reward is given after a varying number of responses, but on average, the number is constant. This leads to high response rates and is very resistant to extinction.

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Fixed interval schedule

A reward is given after a fixed amount of time passes.

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Variable interval schedule

A reward is given after a varying amount of time passes, but on average, the time is constant. This leads to consistent responding.

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Habitual vs. voluntary

While operant conditioning is about voluntary behavior, strongly conditioned behaviors can become habitual and less conscious.

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Study Notes

Operant Conditioning

  • Organisms learn to behave in order to obtain or avoid consequences.
  • It's also called instrumental conditioning.
  • Feedback, like rewards and punishments, are used to shape behavior.
  • Edward Thorndike's Law of Effect: actions leading to rewards increase, while those with punishments decrease.
  • Thorndike's experiments with puzzle boxes demonstrated this.
  • Actions associated with positive outcomes are more likely to be repeated.

Reinforcement

  • Reinforcement increases the probability of a behavior occurring again.
  • Reinforcement comes in different forms.
  • Positive reinforcement: adding something desirable.
  • Example: an allowance given for cleaning a room
  • Negative reinforcement: removing something undesirable.
  • Example: taking aspirin to relieve headache

Punishment

  • Punishment decreases the probability of a behavior occurring again.
  • Positive punishment: adding something unpleasant.
  • Example: scolding a sibling for teasing.
  • Negative punishment: removing something desirable.
  • Example: taking away a toy for misbehavior

Discriminative Stimulus & Outcome

  • A discriminative stimulus (Sd) is a cue to the environment.
  • Action in the presence of the Sd is known as the response (R).
  • Outcome (O) can be intrinsic in value or predictive of value.
    • Primary outcomes are intrinsically valuable (food, pain).
    • Secondary outcomes predict access to primary ones (money).

Expectation of Outcome

  • The rate of response changes when outcomes change.
  • Transitioning to a less desirable reward will reduce response.

Classical Conditioning vs Operant Conditioning

  • Classical conditioning focuses on associations between stimuli, while operant conditioning focuses on the consequences of behavior.
  • An outcome in classical conditioning occurs irrespective on whether the organism performs an action, whereas operant conditioning's outcome hinges on the action.

Shaping

  • Shaping is refining a desired complex behavior by reinforcing successive approximations.
  • Start with a simple behavior and consistently reward it until it becomes more complex
  • This is one of the methods that can be used to develop very complex behaviors

Building Complex Behaviors

  • Chain behaviors to create a complex sequence
  • Separate actions into steps and reinforce each step until complete.

Types of Operant Conditioning

  • Positive reinforcement: adding something positive to increase behavior
  • Positive punishment: adding something unpleasant to decrease behavior
  • Negative reinforcement: removing something unpleasant to increase behavior
  • Negative punishment: removing something positive to decrease behavior

Reinforcement Schedules

  • Continuous reinforcement strengthens behavior quickly.
  • Partial reinforcement strengthens behavior more resistant to extinction.
  • Different schedules result in varied response rates and resistance.

Habits

  • Well-learned habits are automatic.
  • Habits are triggered by cues from the environment.
  • Habits can interfere with conscious goals or intentions.
  • External factors can disrupt habits.

Different Reinforcement of Alternative Behaviors (DRA)

  • Decrease the desired behavior by reinforcing the alternative behavior which is incompatible with the unwanted behavior.

Immediate Reinforcement

  • Leads to faster acquisition of a response compared to delayed reinforcement

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Related Documents

L&M Lecture 7 Operant Conditioning PDF

Description

Explore the concepts of operant conditioning, including reinforcement and punishment. Understand how behaviors can be shaped through rewards and consequences, drawing from Edward Thorndike's Law of Effect. Test your knowledge on positive and negative reinforcements and the different forms of punishment.

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