Psychology Chapter on Reinforcement Schedules

Behavior and Reinforcement

• Reinforcement increases the likelihood of a behavior occurring.
• Punishment, in contrast, aims to decrease behavior frequency.
• Insight involves understanding, not necessarily linked to behavior modification.

Schedules of Reinforcement

• Fixed Ratio Schedule: Rewards given after a set number of responses, e.g., coach rewarding a player after every third wicket.
• Fixed Interval Schedule: Reinforcement occurs after a predetermined time, demonstrated by an employee receiving rewards every 45 minutes.

Types of Memory

• Echoic Memory: A type of sensory memory specifically for auditory information received through the ears.

Defense Mechanisms

• Sublimation: A mature defense mechanism where unacceptable impulses are transformed into socially acceptable actions, such as kickboxing for managing anger.

Eye Anatomy

• Iris: The muscle band behind the cornea that gives the eye its color and controls pupil size.

Psychosexual Development

• Oedipus Complex: Observed during the Phallic stage of Freud's psychosexual development.
• Correct developmental order of Freud's stages: oral, anal, phallic, latency.

Motivation Types

• Intrinsic Motivation: Internal satisfaction driving behavior, contrasted with external motivations like money or power.

Nature vs. Nurture

• The question of whether alcoholism is influenced more by genetics or environment highlights the nature-nurture issue.

Sympathetic Nervous System

• Actions not part of the sympathetic nervous system include increased digestion, which is characteristic of the parasympathetic system.