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