Operant and Classical Conditioning

Variable Interval

a schedule where reinforcement happens after a varied length of time

Variable Ratio

a schedule where reinforcement happens after a varied number of responses

Operant conditioning

Action leads to reward which makes subject want to do it again

Negative Reinforcement

Constant punishment, such as shock, until subject does good behavior

Ivan Pavlov

Russian physiologist who observed conditioned salivary responses in dogs (1849-1936)

Extinction

a conditioning process in which the reinforcer is removed and a conditioned response becomes independent of the conditioned stimulus

Punishment

an event that decreases the behavior that it follows

Classical Conditioning

conditioning that pairs a neutral stimulus with a stimulus that evokes a reflex

Fixed Ratio

describes a schedule of reinforcement wherein a worker is paid for a certain sum for each product produced

Fixed Interval

describes the schedule of reinforcement wherein a worker receives a paycheck every Friday

BF Skinner

pioneer of operant conditioning who believed that everything we do is determined by our past history of rewards and punishments. he is famous for use of his operant conditioning aparatus which he used to study schedules of reinforcement on pidgeons and rats.

Generalization

(psychology) transfer of a response learned to one stimulus to a similar stimulus

Shaping

an operant conditioning procedure in which reinforcers guide behavior toward closer and closer approximations of the desired behavior

Unconditioned Response

in classical conditioning, the unlearned, naturally occurring response to the unconditioned stimulus (US), such as salivation when food is in the mouth.

Unconditioned Stimulus

in classical conditioning, a stimulus that unconditionally—naturally and automatically—triggers a response (US).

Conditioned Stimulus

in classical conditioning, an originally irrelevant stimulus that, after association with an unconditioned stimulus, comes to trigger a conditioned response (CS).

Discrimination

in classical conditioning, the learned ability to distinguish between a conditioned stimulus and stimuli that do not signal an unconditioned stimulus

Conditioned Response

in classical conditioning, the learned response to a previously neutral (but now conditioned) stimulus (CR).

Positive Reinforcement

increasing behaviors by presenting positive stimuli, such as food. A positive reinforcer is any stimulus that, when presented after a response, strengthens the response.

Reinforcers

the consequences that influence and strengthen behaviors

Spontaneous Recovery

the reappearance, after a pause, of an extinguished conditioned response

Schedules of Reinforcement

the rule for determining when and how often reinforcers will continue; Four types of schedules: fixed ratio, variable ratio, fixed interval, and variable interval; interval means over a time and ratio means an act; partial reinforcement is on a variable schedule whereas continuous reinforcement is on a fixed schedule; variable schedules are more effective in learning