Psychology 6.3 Operant Conditioning terms

variable interval reinforcement schedule

the person or animal gets the reinforcement based on varying amounts of time, which are unpredictable

example of fixed interval schedule

A hungry child jiggles the Jell-O more often to see if it has settled yet

primary reinforcer

reinforcers that have innate reinforcing qualities

example of partial reinforcement

Gambling machines and lottery tickets reward gamblers occasionally and unpredictably.

positive reinforcement

adding a desirable stimulus to increase a behavior

Operant vs. Classical Conditioning

operant conditioning, the learner is also rewarded with incentives, while classical conditioning involves no such enticements. Also remember that classical conditioning is passive on the part of the learner, while operant conditioning requires the learner to actively participate and perform some type of action in order to be rewarded or punished.

example of variable interval schedule

reward for persistence in rechecking facebook

Shaping

rewarding successive approximations toward a target behavior

fixed ratio reinforcement schedule

set number of responses must occur before a behavior is rewarded

example of positive punishment

spanking, parking ticket

negative punishment

taking away a pleasant stimulus to decrease or stop a behavior

negative reinforcement

taking away an undesirable stimulus to increase a behavior

example of positive reinforcement

-student comes in early to class, we give praise, they continue to come on time

primary vs secondary reinforcers

..., Primary: Help satisfy biological needs.; Secondary: Derive effectiveness from their association with primary reinforces through classical conditioning. , Primary = food, water, social relations Secondary = things that can get primary ones

steps of shaping

1. Reinforce any response that resembles the desired behavior. 2. Then reinforce the response that more closely resembles the desired behavior. You will no longer reinforce the previously reinforced response. 3. Next, begin to reinforce the response that even more closely resembles the desired behavior. 4. Continue to reinforce closer and closer approximations of the desired behavior. 5. Finally, only reinforce the desired behavior.

Example of fixed ratio reinforcement

Carla sells glasses at an eyeglass store, and she earns a commission every time she sells a pair of glasses. She always tries to sell people more pairs of glasses, including prescription sunglasses or a backup pair, so she can increase her commission. She does not care if the person really needs the prescription sunglasses, Carla just wants her bonus. The quality of what Carla sells does not matter because her commission is not based on quality;

continuous vs. partial reinforcement

Continuous: Reinforcing a response each time it occurs. Results in rapid learning, but not real life Partial: Reinforcing only after a certain amount of time has passed or only after a certain number of responses have been made. More realistic.

positive vs negative punishment

For positive punishment, try to think of it as adding a negative consequence after an undesired behavior is emitted to decrease future responses. As for negative punishment, try to think of it as taking away a certain desired item after the undesired behavior happens in order to decrease future responses.

Examples of operant conditioning

Gambling, Clever Hans, trial and error learning, animals performing tricks

example of secondary reinforcer

Money, grades etc. Money has no value to a young child until the child learns that money can be used to buy things that are themselves primary or secondary reinforcers. Grades have little value to students unless their families notice and value good grades, and families' praise is of value because it is associated with love, warmth, security, and other reinforcers

positive vs negative reinforcement

Positive- increasing behaviors by presenting positive stimuli, such as food. A positive reinforcer is any stimulus that, when presented after a response, strengthens the response. Negative- increasing behaviors by stopping or reducing negative stimuli, such as shock, a negative reinforcer is any stimulus that, when removed after a response, strengthens the response.

Examples of punishment

Take toy away, recess, phone call, etc.

example of primary reinforcers

Water, food, sleep, shelter ,sex, and touch, pleasure

continuous reinforcement

When an organism receives a reinforcer each time it displays a behavior

cognitive map

a mental picture of the layout of the maze

positive punishment

adding an undesirable stimulus to stop or decrease a behavior

example of cognitive map

after exploring a maze, rats act as if they have learned a cognitive map of it

fixed interval reinforcement schedule

behavior is rewarded after a set amount of time

law of effect

behaviors that are followed by consequences that are satisfying to the organism are more likely to be repeated, and behaviors that are followed by unpleasant consequences are less likely to be repeated

example of variable ratio schedule

gambling

example of continuous reinforcement

going to the same candy machine because it lets out two chocolate bars instead of one

secondary reinforcer

has no inherent value and only has reinforcing qualities when linked with a primary reinforcer

punishment

implementation of a consequence in order to decrease a behavior

latent learning

learning that occurs but is not observable in behavior until there is a reason to demonstrate it

variable ratio reinforcement schedule

number of responses differ before a behavior is rewarded

Example of shaping

teaching someone to read

partial reinforcement

the person or animal does not get reinforced every time they perform the desired behavior

examples of latent learning

tolman (rat maze), cognitive map (mental representation), demonstrated learning without reinforcement

example of negative reinforcement

-student comes in late, take away their ability to go to the treasure box for a treat -student changes behavior and comes in early to regain that

example of negative punishment

-student has temper tantrum to avoid math, student is put in the hallway until they calm down -remove from class, remove from having to do work (student gets what they want)

Reinforcement vs. Punishment

Reinforcement increases the likelihood of something happening again. Punishment is the consequence of a behavior; it will decrease the likelihood of a behavior happening again

operant conditioning

organisms learn to associate a behavior and its consequence