Unit 4A Learning pt.2
edward thorndike and the law of effect
Thorndike's principle that behaviors followed by favorable consequences become more likely, and that behaviors followed by unfavorable consequences become less likely or will stop
positive reinforcers
add a desirable stimulus in order to continue; ex. getting a hug, receiving food, gaining attention
positive
addition of something that is unpleasant to curve the behavior of something that follows; ex. spanking, a parking ticket
reinforcers
any event that strengthens the behavior it follows
operant behavior
behavior that operates on the environment, producing consequences
premack principle
different reinforcers or punishment work for different people
punishment
event that decreases the behavior it follows; most effective when it is strong, immediate, and consistent
b.f. skinner and the operant chamber
experiment that can manipulate to obtain food or water reinforcer, used in operant conditioning
primary reinforcers
innately reinforcing stimulus such as one that satisfies a biological need; ex. food and water
secondary reinforcers
learned reinforcer or a conditioned reinforcer; ex. money, video games, clothes
shaping and successive approximations
procedure in which reinforcers guide behavior toward closer and closer approximations of a desired goal
instrumental learning
reinforcement or punishment used to increase or decrease the probability that a behavior will occur again in the future
partial reinforcement
reinforcing a response only part of the time
continuous reinforcement
reinforcing the desired response every time it occurs; ex. teaching a dog trick and rewarding with a treat
negative reinforcers
remove an aversive stimulus; ex. fastening seat belt to turn off alarm
variable-ratio schedule
schedule of reinforcement that rewards a response after an average # of responses; ex. rewarded after an average # of 5 responses, slot machine
variable-interval schedule
schedule of reinforcement that rewards a response at unpredictable time intervals; ex. reward first response after 3 or so minutes, pop quiz, random drug tests
fixed-ratio schedule
schedule of reinforcement that rewards a response only after a specified # of responses; ex. rewarded after 5th response
fixed-interval schedule
schedule of reinforcement that rewards a response only after a specified time has passed; ex. first response after 3 minutes, paychecks, baking
generalized reinforcer
secondary reinforcer that is paired with a primary reinforcer, and can do both good and bad; ex. money
chaining
teaching complex responses while still using operant conditioning
operant conditioning
type of learning in which behavior is strengthened if followed by a reinforcer (reward) or diminished if followed by a punisher (punishment)
negative
withdrawal of a desirable stimulus following a certain behavior; ex. taking away your phone, revoked drivers license