Operant Conditioning Overview

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Questions and Answers

What type of behavior is primarily involved in operant conditioning?

  • Operant behavior (correct)
  • Respondent behavior
  • Classical responses
  • Involuntary responses

Which statement correctly describes positive reinforcement?

  • It decreases a behavior by adding an aversive stimulus.
  • It strengthens a response by presenting a pleasurable stimulus. (correct)
  • It strengthens a response by removing an aversive stimulus.
  • It is ineffective in increasing behaviors.

What distinguishes negative reinforcement from punishment?

  • Negative reinforcement weakens responses.
  • Negative reinforcement involves adding a stimulus.
  • Negative reinforcement removes an aversive stimulus. (correct)
  • Negative reinforcement is always unpleasant.

Which type of reinforcer is learned through its association with primary reinforcers?

<p>Secondary reinforcer (A)</p>
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What is continuous reinforcement?

<p>Reinforcement after every occurrence of a response. (B)</p>
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Which schedule of reinforcement typically leads to greater resistance to extinction?

<p>Variable ratio schedule (D)</p>
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What is the effect of delayed reinforcement on operant behavior?

<p>It can enhance the value of the reward when waited for. (C)</p>
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What happens to responses under continuous reinforcement over time?

<p>Responses increase but become extinct quickly. (D)</p>
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What type of schedule rewards a known number of responses?

<p>Fixed-ratio (A)</p>
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Which schedule is characterized by an unpredictable number of responses for reinforcement?

<p>Variable-ratio (A)</p>
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What is the primary effect of positive punishment?

<p>Suppress behavior (A)</p>
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Which principle emphasizes that punishment may only suppress behavior rather than eliminate it?

<p>Behavioral suppression (D)</p>
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What is more effective according to psychologists when discipline is necessary?

<p>Negative punishment (D)</p>
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What is the term for the phenomenon where operantly conditioned behaviors revert to biological predispositions?

<p>Instinctive drift (A)</p>
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How are shaping techniques applied in sports training?

<p>Using successive approximations for skill development (B)</p>
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Which type of reinforcement is considered to influence behavior most strongly?

<p>Primary reinforcers (A)</p>
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Flashcards

Classical Conditioning

Learning through associating stimuli and responses, involving involuntary, automatic responses. For example, salivating at the sound of a bell after it's been paired with food.

Operant Conditioning

Learning through associating behavior and consequences, involving voluntary actions that operate on the environment. For example, studying for an exam to get a good grade.

Positive Reinforcement

A stimulus that increases the likelihood of a behavior by presenting something pleasurable. For example, giving a dog a treat for sitting.

Negative Reinforcement

A stimulus that increases the likelihood of a behavior by removing something unpleasant. For example, taking away chores for good behavior.

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Continuous Reinforcement

A reinforcement schedule where the behavior is always rewarded. This leads to fast learning but quick extinction.

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Partial Reinforcement

A reinforcement schedule where the behavior is only rewarded sometimes. This leads to slower learning but better resistance to extinction.

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Ratio Schedule

Reinforcement schedules based on the number of times a behavior is performed. For example, getting paid for every ten items produced.

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Interval Schedule

Reinforcement schedules based on the time that has passed since the last reward. For example, getting paid every month.

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Fixed-Ratio Schedule

A reinforcement schedule where a predictable number of responses are required before the desired outcome is delivered.

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Variable-Ratio Schedule

A reinforcement schedule where an unpredictable number of responses are required before the desired outcome is delivered.

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Fixed-Interval Schedule

A reinforcement schedule where a predictable amount of time must pass before the desired outcome is delivered.

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Variable-Interval Schedule

A reinforcement schedule where an unpredictable amount of time must pass before the desired outcome is delivered.

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Punishment

A behavior is less likely to occur after a punishment is applied.

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Positive Punishment

A punishment that involves adding an unpleasant stimulus.

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Negative Punishment

A punishment that involves removing a pleasant stimulus.

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Biological Constraints

Naturally occurring behaviors are more readily learned and retained.

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Study Notes

Operant Conditioning Overview

  • Operant conditioning is a type of associative learning focusing on operant behavior—actions that affect the environment.
  • It differs from classical conditioning, which involves associating stimuli and involuntary responses.
  • Operant behavior increases if followed by reinforcement, and decreases if followed by punishment.

Reinforcement

  • Reinforcement strengthens a behavior.
  • Positive reinforcement: Adding a desirable stimulus (e.g., praise, food).
  • Negative reinforcement: Removing an undesirable stimulus (e.g., removing chores, relieving withdrawal symptoms). Negative reinforcement is not punishment, as it increases the behavior.
  • Reinforcers can be primary (innate, like food) or secondary (learned, like money).
  • Delayed reinforcement works, often more effectively than immediate reinforcement. (e.g. paycheck)

Reinforcement Schedules

  • Continuous reinforcement: Reinforcing every response. Leads to rapid learning but quick extinction.
  • Partial reinforcement: Reinforcing some, but not all, responses. More resistant to extinction than continuous reinforcement.
  • Schedules are grouped as:
    • Ratio: based on number of responses.
    • Interval: based on time elapsed
      • Fixed ratio: Reinforcement after a set number of responses.
      • Variable ratio: Reinforcement after an unpredictable number of responses. (Most resistant to extinction)
      • Fixed interval: Reinforcement after a set time interval.
      • Variable interval: Reinforcement after an unpredictable time interval.

Punishment

  • Punishment decreases a behavior.
  • Positive punishment: Adding an undesirable stimulus (e.g., scolding, spanking).
  • Negative punishment: Removing a desirable stimulus (e.g., taking away a toy).
  • Punishment may not eliminate the undesired behavior but rather suppress it.
  • It can also create fear or discrimination and may be ineffective or even harmful (esp. physical punishment).
  • Reinforcement should be preferred over punishment for children, if needed use a negative punishment.

Applications of Operant Conditioning

  • Education: Individualized learning plans, rewarding good work.
  • Sports: Shaping and successive approximations.
  • AI: Reinforcement learning in computer programs.

Biological Constraints on Operant Conditioning

  • Operant conditioning is influenced by biological predispositions.
  • We learn behaviors more easily when they're naturally adaptive.
  • Primary reinforcers (e.g., food, comfort) are more powerful than learned reinforcers.
  • Operantly conditioned behaviors that aren't biologically natural may revert to those natural behaviors over time (instinctive drift).

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