Operant Conditioning

Front

The Law of Effect

Back

Behaviors with reinforcing consequences are more likely to be repeated, while behaviors with punishing consequences are not as likely to be repeated.

Front

Positive reinforcement

Back

A stimulus presented after a response that increases the probability of that response happening again.

Front

Negative reinforcement

Back

The removal of an unpleasant or averse stimulus that increases the probability of that response happening again.

Front

Positive punishment

Back

An undesirable event that follows a behavior, like getting detention after cheating on a test.

Front

Negative punishment

Back

When a desirable event ends or when an item is taken away after a behavior.

Front

Primary reinforcer

Back

A naturally rewarding stimulus like food or water.

Front

Secondary reinforcer

Back

A learned reward like money, which gains value through association with primary reinforcers.

Front

Reinforcement discrimination

Back

The ability to distinguish between similar stimuli and respond only to the specific one associated with reinforcement.

Front

Reinforcement generalization

Back

Responding similarly to stimuli that resemble the one associated with reinforcement.

Front

Shaping

Back

Reinforcement can be used to change behavior gradually through rewarding successive approximations of the desired behavior.