Key Terms in Operant Conditioning
behaviors with good consequences are more likely to be repeated, and behaviors with bad consequences are less likely to be repeated
Law of Effect
a desirable stimulus id added to increase a behavior
Positive Reinforcement
has no inherent value and only has reinforcing qualities when linked with a primary reinforcer (ex. praise, money)
Secondary Reinforcers
time
Interval
Reinforcers always occurs after the same amount of time
Fixed Interval
ALWAYS increases the likelihood of behavior
Reinforcement
undesirable stimulus removed to increase behavior
Negative Reinforcement
Secondary reinforcers used to modify behavior that can be traded for rewards/prizes
Token Economies
number of behaviors
Ratio
Reinforcer occurs after changing period of time
Variable Interval
ALWAYS decreases the likelihood of behavior
Punishment
add an undesirable stimulus to decrease a behavior
Positive Punishment
reinforcer occurs every time a behavior happens
(Ex. every time a dog does a trick, he gets a treat)
Continuous Reinforcement
constant/same
Fixed
Reinforcer always occurs after same number of behaviors
Fixed Ratio
adding something
Positive (+)
remove a stimulus to decrease behavior
Negative Punishment
Reinforcer occurs, but NOT every time a behavior happens
Partial Reinforcement
varying/changing
Variable
Reinforcer occurs after changing number of behaviors
Variable Ratio
removing/subtracting something
Negative (-)
reinforcers with innate reinforcing qualities/not learned (ex. water and food)
Primary Reinforcers
what type of partial reinforcement schedules takes the longest for a behavior to disappear
Variable Ratio