Back to AI Flashcard MakerPsychology /Psychology - Chapter 6 Learning-Operant Conditioning Part 2
Psychology - Chapter 6 Learning-Operant Conditioning Part 2
This deck covers key concepts from Chapter 6 on operant conditioning, focusing on reinforcement schedules, shaping, and related behavioral theories.
What are the two dimensions in which the principle of reinforcement schedules varies?
1- Consistency of administering reinforcement. Can have fixed or variable contingencies. 2- The basis of administering reinforcement. Can be ratio schedules or interval schedules.
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Key Terms
Term
Definition
What are the two dimensions in which the principle of reinforcement schedules varies?
1- Consistency of administering reinforcement. Can have fixed or variable contingencies. 2- The basis of administering reinforcement. Can be ratio sch...
What is a fixed basis?
Reinforcement is provided on a regular basis.
What is a variable basis?
Reinforcement is provided on an irregular basis.
What is a ratio schedule?
The experimenter reinforces the animal based on the number of responses it has emitted.
What is an interval schedule?
The experimenter reinforces the animal based on the amount of time elapsed since the last reinforcement.
What is a fixed ratio schedule?
Reinforcement is provided after a regular number of responses. (ex: FR15 would be giving a rat a food pellet for every 15 responses)
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| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
What are the two dimensions in which the principle of reinforcement schedules varies? | 1- Consistency of administering reinforcement. Can have fixed or variable contingencies. 2- The basis of administering reinforcement. Can be ratio schedules or interval schedules. |
What is a fixed basis? | Reinforcement is provided on a regular basis. |
What is a variable basis? | Reinforcement is provided on an irregular basis. |
What is a ratio schedule? | The experimenter reinforces the animal based on the number of responses it has emitted. |
What is an interval schedule? | The experimenter reinforces the animal based on the amount of time elapsed since the last reinforcement. |
What is a fixed ratio schedule? | Reinforcement is provided after a regular number of responses. (ex: FR15 would be giving a rat a food pellet for every 15 responses) |
What is a fixed interval schedule? | Reinforcement is provided for the first response after a specified amount of time has passed. (ex: FI2, give rat a food pellet for the first lever press it makes after 2 minutes have expired) |
What is a variable ratio schedule? | Reinforcement is provided for a variable number of responses with the number varying along some average. |
What is a variable interval schedule? | Reinforcement is provided for the first response after a variable time interval varying along some average. |
Between ratio schedules and interval schedules, which yields higher rates of response? | Ratio |
Between variable schedules and fixed schedules, which yield more consistent rates of response? | Variable |
What do fixed schedules tend to produce after each reinforcement? | A pause, this is because the reinforcement is necessarily some distance away. |
Which type of schedule yields the highest rates of response? | VR |
What is shaping by successive approximations? | Using shaping, we train a new target behaviour by reinforcing behaviours that aren't exactly the target behaviour but, are progressively closer versions of it. Used to train animals. |
What is fading? | Decreasing the frequency of reinforcement for the not-exactly right behaviours during shaping. |
What is chaining? | Linking of a number of interrelated behaviours to form a longer series. Each behaviour becomes a cue for the next one. (think of learning the alphabet and why its so easy to go from a to z but not from the middle or in reverse order) |
How would one overcome procrastination? | When putting off studying, pair it with something you would usually do if given the chance only after having done studying. |
What is superstitious behaviour? | Actions linked to reinforcement by sheer coincidence. There is no actual association between superstitious behaviours and reinforcement, although the animal acts as if there is. |
What is a token economy? | Systems, often set up in psychiatric hospitals, for reinforcing appropriate behaviours and extinguishing inappropriate ones. |
What are secondary reinforcers? | Neutral objects that have become associated with primary reinforcers. |
What are primary reinforcers? | Things such as a favourite food or toy that naturally increases the target behaviour. |
Why are token economies controversial? | Because they don't always apply to the outside world. |
What is ABA? | Applied behaviour analysis. Used for autism and makes extensive use of shaping. Use of primary reinforcers as individuals with autism reach progressively closer approximations of certain words and, eventually, complete sentences. |
What is two process theory? | We need both CC and OC to explain the persistence of anxiety disorders. This is an example of two-process theory. |
How do phobias display two-process theory? | People acquire phobias in part by CC. Their phobias are then reinforced (negatively) by voluntarily avoiding the stimulus. |