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