Psych Pt.6 Vocab

Define Operant conditioning

• a stimulus that reinforces a behavior after it has been associated with a primary reinforcer

• an event or stimulus that decreases the behavior it follows

• an event or stimulus that strengthens the behavior it follows

• a method of learning that uses rewards and punishment to modify behavior

Define Reinforcement

• reinforcing a behavior in the presence of one stimulus but not others

• an event or stimulus that strengthens the behavior it follows

• an event or stimulus that decreases the behavior it follows

• a stimulus that reinforces a behavior after it has been associated with a primary reinforcer

Define Punishment

• reinforcing a behavior in the presence of one stimulus but not others

• an event or stimulus that decreases the behavior it follows

• an event or stimulus that strengthens the behavior it follows

• a stimulus that reinforces a behavior after it has been associated with a primary reinforcer

Define Secondary reinforcer

• reinforcement of successive steps that lead to a final desired behavior

• when a behavior that has been reinforced in a specific context is also exhibited in similar contexts

• reinforcing a behavior in the presence of one stimulus but not others

• a stimulus that reinforces a behavior after it has been associated with a primary reinforcer

Define Reinforcement discrimination

• when a behavior that has been reinforced in a specific context is also exhibited in similar contexts

• reinforcing a behavior in the presence of one stimulus but not others

• reinforcement of successive steps that lead to a final desired behavior

• the tendency of some trained animals to revert back to instinctual behaviors

Define Reinforcement generalization

• the tendency of some trained animals to revert back to instinctual behaviors

• reinforcement of successive steps that lead to a final desired behavior

• reinforcing a behavior in the presence of one stimulus but not others

• when a behavior that has been reinforced in a specific context is also exhibited in similar contexts

Define Shaping

• reinforcing a behavior in the presence of one stimulus but not others

• when a behavior that has been reinforced in a specific context is also exhibited in similar contexts

• reinforcement of successive steps that lead to a final desired behavior

• a stimulus that reinforces a behavior after it has been associated with a primary reinforcer

Define Instinctive drift

• reinforcing a behavior in the presence of one stimulus but not others

• when a behavior that has been reinforced in a specific context is also exhibited in similar contexts

• the tendency of some trained animals to revert back to instinctual behaviors

• reinforcement of successive steps that lead to a final desired behavior

Define Law of Effect

• the tendency to fail to act to escape from a situation because of a history of repeated failures in the past

• the tendency of some trained animals to revert back to instinctual behaviors

• Thorndike's rule that behaviors which have positive outcomes tend to be repeated

• an irrational behavior based on a false belief that a specific action can cause a particular outcome

Define Superstitious behavior

• an irrational behavior based on a false belief that a specific action can cause a particular outcome

• the tendency to fail to act to escape from a situation because of a history of repeated failures in the past

• a desirable or pleasant stimulus following a behavior that makes it more likely the behavior will reoccur

• reinforcing a response only part of the time (results in slower acquisition but also greater resistance to extinction)