Soc 142: Socialization Chapter 8 Flashcards

Questions and Answers

What are secondary reinforcers and punishers? Can you define them?

Secondary reinforcers occur when neutral stimuli repeatedly precede and predict reinforcers. Secondary punishers occur when neutral stimuli repeatedly precede and predict punishers.

How do secondary reinforcers and punishers come into existence? What kind of learning experiences produce them?

Secondary reinforcers and punishers come into existence through Pavlovian conditioning; they are not biologically established.

In what sense are secondary reinforcers and punishers predictive stimuli? What do they predict and why?

Secondary reinforcers and punishers were once neutral stimuli that have acquired reinforcing or punishing characteristics because they precede other reinforcers or punishers.

Because secondary reinforcers and punishers are both conditioned stimulus and discriminant stimulus, what 3 functions do they have?

They function as elicitors of reflexive responses, modify prior operant behavior, and set the occasion for subsequent operant behavior. Signup and view all the answers

In what sense are secondary punishers and reinforcers informative? When are they 'good' or 'bad' news?

Secondary reinforcers convey information that's good news, while punishers convey information that's bad news. Signup and view all the answers

What causes the extinction of a secondary punisher or reinforcer?

The extinction occurs when the secondary stimulus loses its power and no longer precedes or predicts other reinforcers. Signup and view all the answers

Give 4 examples of social stimuli that are secondary reinforcers or punishers.

Smiling, attention, tokens, money, frowning. Signup and view all the answers

What kind of learning experience causes us to discriminate that certain social reinforcers and punishers are faked in certain circumstances?

Subtle social discriminations teach us that compliments can be either sincere or manipulative. Signup and view all the answers

Can you give examples of tokens as secondary reinforcers & punishers? How did they become secondary punishers or reinforcers?

Tokens can be prizes, medals, or awards that act as secondary reinforcers; they became such through conditioning. Signup and view all the answers

What are generalized secondary reinforcers and punishers? Can you give examples? How did they gain their power?

Generalized reinforcers and punishers occur when certain stimuli are predictive of different kinds of reinforcement across various circumstances; money is an example. Signup and view all the answers

Can you give examples of a 2 chain link operant chain? What is the 'glue' that holds them together? How does it relate to the terminal reinforcer?

The glue is a reinforcer; every operant is followed by a reinforcer that leads to the goal. Signup and view all the answers

Give an example of a multiple chain operant link? What roles do secondary reinforcers and punishers play in a multiple link chain?

An example is an Olympic gymnast linking many movements to win; secondary reinforcers and punishers play roles as CS and SD. Signup and view all the answers

How can secondary reinforcers and punishers bridge the time gaps between the early operants and the terminal reinforcer?

They provide immediate consequences for each behavioral link, enabling progression toward the terminal reinforcer. Signup and view all the answers

How do novelists learn the long chains of behavior needed to write a novel?

They start with forming letters, linking them to create words, then sentences and paragraphs, while receiving social reinforcers. Signup and view all the answers

How do you explain socially interlocking chains?

Socially interlocking chains are filled with reinforcers between people to have lasting relationships with minimal conflict. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Secondary Reinforcers and Punishers

Secondary reinforcers are neutral stimuli that, through association, predict positive outcomes.
Secondary punishers are neutral stimuli that predict negative outcomes.

Learning Experiences

Secondary stimuli emerge via Pavlovian conditioning, not biological means.
Individual experiences shape responses to specific secondary reinforcers and punishers.

Predictive Nature

Secondary reinforcers and punishers predict upcoming rewards or punishments due to their prior conditioning.
The strongest predictors are stimuli that closely follow the behavior.

Functions of Secondary Stimuli

Act as conditioned stimuli (CS) by eliciting emotional responses and modifying previous behaviors.
Serve as discriminant stimuli (SD) that signal when to engage in particular behaviors.

Informative Nature

The informativeness of stimuli depends on their reliability as predictors and individual learning of predictive cues.
Secondary reinforcers signal good news, while secondary punishers denote bad news, influencing behavior and emotions.

Extinction Process

The extinction of secondary stimuli occurs when they no longer predict reinforcers or punishers.

Social interactions like smiling and frowning serve as secondary reinforcers and punishers, alongside tokens and money.

Individuals learn that social reinforcers can be sincere or manipulative, leading to discernment in social interactions.

Token Economies

Tokens, such as medals or monetary rewards, act as secondary reinforcers and can also serve as punishers when exchanged for undesirable actions.
Early positive reinforcement established associations with tokens, enhancing their value.

Generalized Reinforcers/Punishers

Generalized stimuli provide a broader range of reinforcement across contexts, exemplified by money.
They gain strength through societal consensus on their value.

Operant Chains

Reinforcers connect behaviors in operant chains, where each link is influenced by secondary stimuli that reinforce or guide subsequent actions.
The terminal reinforcer closes the chain, creating a feedback loop of motivation.

Multiple Chain Operant Links

In complex behaviors, such as athletic training, secondary stimuli facilitate emotional reinforcement and guide the sequence of actions.

Bridging Time Gaps

Secondary reinforcers/punishers offer immediate feedback in operant chains, maintaining motivation through lengthy behavior sequences.
Delayed consequences can disrupt behavior chains, affecting overall performance.

Writing Long Chains of Behaviors

Novelists progress through stages of writing, reinforced by social recognition and teaching that builds their skills over time.

Socially-Interlocking Chains

Relationships thrive on mutually reinforcing behaviors, leading to fewer conflicts and stronger bonds.
Engaging in shared activities and interests strengthens these interlocks, enhancing relational satisfaction.

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Description

Test your knowledge on Chapter 8 of Soc 142 regarding secondary reinforcers and punishers. This quiz will help you understand their definitions and how they come into existence through learning experiences. Perfect for students looking to enhance their grasp of socialization concepts.