Psychology Chapter on Reinforcers

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Questions and Answers

Give an example of a primary reinforcer and an example of a secondary reinforcer.

A primary reinforcer is food, and a secondary reinforcer is money.

One of the suggested mechanisms behind Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is a lack of ____________.

conditioning

Give an example of classical conditioning in advertising.

McDonald's uses a billboard of a perfect burger to make consumers salivate, encouraging them to buy.

The easiest learning of associations between two stimuli occur when the stimuli are ______________.

related to something that is biologically relevant Signup and view all the answers

What was Tolman's study and what did it teach us about latent learning?

Tolman studied three groups of rats in mazes; the third group demonstrated latent learning when rewarded. Signup and view all the answers

In the example discussed in class, the sound of the container opening becomes a(n) ______________ after being paired with food multiple times.

conditioned stimulus Signup and view all the answers

What was Bandura's study and what did it teach us about observational learning?

Bandura's study showed that children imitate aggressive behaviors they observe, highlighting the importance of observational learning. Signup and view all the answers

Describe the two types of reinforcement and the two types of punishment and how each changes behavior.

Positive reinforcement adds a pleasant stimulus; negative reinforcement removes an unpleasant stimulus. Positive punishment adds an unpleasant stimulus; negative punishment removes a pleasant stimulus. Signup and view all the answers

If I gave you a cookie approximately once every 3 times you turned in an assignment before it was due, this would be an example of what schedule of reinforcement?

Variable Ratio Signup and view all the answers

What is Thorndike's law of effect? Give a real-world example of this law as it relates to your life.

The law of effect states that responses that create a pleasant outcome are more likely to occur again. An example is learning to ride a bike; after initial struggles, success encourages further attempts. Signup and view all the answers

Little Albert's fear of Santa after being classically conditioned to fear rats is an example of ______________.

generalization Signup and view all the answers

Give an example of positive reinforcement and an example of negative reinforcement.

Positive reinforcement: Winning a soccer game leads to a special dinner. Negative reinforcement: Getting an A on a test results in no chores for the day. Signup and view all the answers

What is the difference between continuous and partial reinforcement? Which one has more rapid extinction and which one takes more time to learn?

Continuous reinforcement reinforces desired responses every time, leading to rapid learning but quick extinction. Partial reinforcement reinforces sometimes, leading to slower learning but greater resistance to extinction. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Reinforcement and Conditioning

Primary reinforcers are stimuli naturally preferred, such as food, water, and pain relief.
Secondary reinforcers acquire value through association with primary reinforcers, like money which is linked to buying food.
Classical conditioning occurs when a neutral stimulus becomes associated with a meaningful stimulus, leading to a conditioned response (e.g., advertising with enticing visuals).
Conditioning is disrupted when two stimuli are unpaired, leading to potential issues like Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

Latent Learning and Cognitive Maps

Tolman's experiment with rats demonstrated latent learning, which occurs without reinforcement and is only expressed when motivation arises.
Rats developed a "cognitive map" of the maze, showing that learning can occur even in the absence of immediate rewards.

Observational Learning

Bandura's study revealed that children learn behaviors through observation, imitating aggressive actions shown by a model.
This type of learning allows individuals to acquire skills without direct experience, which can mitigate risks associated with certain behaviors.

Reinforcement and Punishment

Positive reinforcement strengthens behavior by adding a pleasant stimulus (e.g., rewards for good grades).
Negative reinforcement strengthens behavior by removing an unpleasant stimulus (e.g., taking painkillers to eliminate pain).
Positive punishment weakens behavior by presenting an unpleasant stimulus (e.g., extra homework for misbehavior).
Negative punishment weakens behavior by removing a pleasant stimulus (e.g., losing computer privileges for missing curfew).

Schedules of Reinforcement

Variable ratio (VR) reinforcement is characterized by a reinforcement received after an unpredictable number of responses, such as receiving cookies after submitting assignments inconsistently.
Continuous reinforcement leads to rapid learning but also quick extinction when reinforcement stops, while partial reinforcement takes longer to learn but resists extinction better.

Psychological Concepts

Thorndike's law of effect states behaviors leading to pleasant outcomes are more likely to recur, as seen in the learning process of riding a bike.
Generalization occurs when a conditioned response extends to similar stimuli (e.g., Little Albert fearing Santa after being conditioned to fear rats).

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Description

This quiz tests your understanding of primary and secondary reinforcers in psychology. Explore examples and definitions to strengthen your grasp on these concepts. Perfect for psychology students looking to review fundamental principles.