Podcast
Questions and Answers
Which of the following scenarios best exemplifies negative reinforcement?
Which of the following scenarios best exemplifies negative reinforcement?
- A rat presses a lever to turn off an electric shock. (correct)
- A student is given detention for misbehaving in class.
- An employee is given a bonus for exceeding their sales target.
- A child receives a sticker for completing their homework.
According to Skinner's work, which reinforcement schedule is most resistant to extinction?
According to Skinner's work, which reinforcement schedule is most resistant to extinction?
- Fixed-ratio
- Fixed-interval
- Variable-ratio (correct)
- Variable-interval
What distinguishes operant conditioning from classical conditioning?
What distinguishes operant conditioning from classical conditioning?
- Operant conditioning involves active subjects, while classical conditioning involves passive subjects. (correct)
- Operant conditioning involves associating stimuli, while classical conditioning involves consequences that follow behavior.
- Operant conditioning focuses on involuntary responses, while classical conditioning focuses on voluntary behaviors.
- Operant conditioning was discovered by Pavlov, while classical conditioning was discovered by Skinner.
Which of the following scenarios represents positive punishment?
Which of the following scenarios represents positive punishment?
Why might physical punishment be a less effective method of behavior modification compared to reinforcement?
Why might physical punishment be a less effective method of behavior modification compared to reinforcement?
In operant conditioning, what is the primary difference between a primary reinforcer and a conditioned reinforcer?
In operant conditioning, what is the primary difference between a primary reinforcer and a conditioned reinforcer?
How can operant conditioning principles be effectively applied in the workplace to improve employee performance?
How can operant conditioning principles be effectively applied in the workplace to improve employee performance?
A casino uses a slot machine that pays out after a seemingly random number of plays. Which reinforcement schedule is being employed?
A casino uses a slot machine that pays out after a seemingly random number of plays. Which reinforcement schedule is being employed?
Why is it important to understand the difference between immediate and delayed reinforcers?
Why is it important to understand the difference between immediate and delayed reinforcers?
A teacher decides to give students a pop quiz after a week of particularly good behavior. What type of reinforcement schedule does this exemplify, and is it typically effective?
A teacher decides to give students a pop quiz after a week of particularly good behavior. What type of reinforcement schedule does this exemplify, and is it typically effective?
Flashcards
Operant Conditioning
Operant Conditioning
Learning where behavior is strengthened if followed by a reinforcer or diminished if followed by a punisher.
Reinforcement
Reinforcement
Increases the likelihood of a behavior occurring again.
Positive Reinforcement
Positive Reinforcement
Adding a desirable stimulus to increase a behavior.
Negative Reinforcement
Negative Reinforcement
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Continuous Reinforcement
Continuous Reinforcement
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Partial Reinforcement
Partial Reinforcement
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Punishment
Punishment
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Positive Punishment
Positive Punishment
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Negative Punishment
Negative Punishment
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Operant Conditioning
Operant Conditioning
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Study Notes
- Operant conditioning strengthens behavior when followed by reinforcement, and diminishes behavior when followed by punishment.
B.F. Skinner
- B.F. Skinner, a prominent behaviorist, built upon Edward Thorndike's law of effect.
- Skinner's work led to the development of operant conditioning principles.
- The operant chamber, or Skinner box, was designed by Skinner to investigate operant conditioning in a controlled environment.
Reinforcement
- Reinforcement serves to increase the likelihood of a behavior occurring again.
- Positive reinforcement involves the addition of a desirable stimulus to increase behavior.
- Negative reinforcement involves the removal of an aversive stimulus to increase behavior.
- Primary reinforcers, like food or comfort, are naturally reinforcing.
- Conditioned reinforcers acquire their reinforcing properties through associations with primary reinforcers.
- Immediate reinforcers provide rewards instantly after the desired behavior.
- Delayed reinforcers offer rewards at a later time, and humans are shown to respond to these.
Reinforcement Schedules
- Continuous reinforcement involves reinforcing the desired behavior every time it occurs.
- Partial (intermittent) reinforcement reinforces a response only some of the time.
- Fixed-ratio schedules reinforce behavior after a specific number of responses.
- Variable-ratio schedules reinforce behavior after an unpredictable number of responses.
- Fixed-interval schedules reinforce the first response after a specific time period has elapsed.
- Variable-interval schedules reinforce the first response after varying time intervals.
Punishment
- Punishment aims to decrease the likelihood of a behavior reoccurring.
- Positive punishment involves administering an aversive stimulus.
- Negative punishment involves withdrawing a desirable stimulus.
- Punished behavior tends to be suppressed temporarily rather than forgotten completely.
- Punishment can lead to the ability to discriminate between situations where the behavior is allowed and where it is not.
- Punishment can create fear, potentially generalizing to the punisher or the environment.
- Physical punishment is correlated with increased aggression.
Applications of Operant Conditioning
- Schools use operant conditioning to enhance learning through feedback and reinforcement strategies.
- Sports coaches utilize reinforcement to mold athletes' behaviors, encouraging desired actions while discouraging unwanted ones.
- Workplaces can apply operant conditioning principles to motivate employees by rewarding productivity and establishing clear expectations.
- At home, parents can use reinforcement techniques to promote positive behavior and discourage negative behavior in their children.
Contrasting Classical and Operant Conditioning
- Classical conditioning involves involuntary, automatic responses and the formation of associations between stimuli.
- Operant conditioning involves voluntary behaviors and the consequences (reinforcement or punishment) that follow them.
- In classical conditioning, the subject is primarily passive, whereas in operant conditioning, the subject actively engages in behaviors.
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