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chapter 6 operant conditioning

Terms in this set (27)

avoidance behavior
Behaviorthat occurs before the aversive stimulus is presented and thereby preventsits delivery.
contrived reinforcers
Reinforcers that have been deliberately arranged to modify a behavior; they are not atypical consequence of the behavior in that setting. Also called artificial reinforcers.
discriminative stimulus (SD)
A stimulus in the presence of which responses are reinforced and in the absence of which they are not reinforced; that is, a stimulus that signals the availability of reinforcement.
discriminative stimulus for extinction (SΔ)
A stimulus that signals the absence of reinforcement.
discriminative stimulus for punishment (SDp)
A stimulus that signals that a response will be punished.
escape behavior
A behavior that results in the termination of an aversive stimulus.
extinction
the weakening of a behavior through the nonreinforcement of a previously reinforced behavior.
extrinsic reinforcement
The reinforcement provided by a consequence that is external to the behavior,that is, an extrinsic reinforcer.
generalized(or generalized secondary) reinforcer
A type of secondary reinforcer that has been associated with several other reinforcers. Also called a generalized secondary reinforcer.
intrinsic reinforcement
Reinforcement provided by the mere act of performing the behavior; the performance of the behavior itself is the reinforcer.
law of effect
As stated by Thorn dike, the proposition that behaviors that lead to a satisfying state of affairs are strengthened or "stamped in," while behaviors that lead to an unsatisfying or annoying state of affairs are weakened or "stamped out."
natural reinforcers
Reinforcers that are naturally provided for a certain behavior; that is, they are atypical consequence of the behavior within that setting.
negative punishment
removal of a pleasant stimulus following a response, decreasing the future strength of that response
negative reinforcement
The removal of a stimulus (one that is usually considered unpleasant or aversive)following a response, which then leads to an increase in the future strength of that response.
operant behavior
A class of emitted responses that result in certain consequences; these consequences,in turn, affect the future probability or strength of those responses.
operant conditioning
A type of learning in which the future probability (strength) of a behavior is affected by its consequences.
positive punishment
The presentation of a stimulus (one that is usually considered unpleasant or aversive) following a response, which then leads to a decrease in the future strength of that response.
positive reinforcement
The presentation of a stimulus (one that is usually considered pleasant or rewarding) following a response, which then leads to an increase in the future strength of that response.
primary reinforcer
An event that is innately reinforcing. Also called an unconditioned reinforcer.
punisher
An event that: (1) follows a behavior and (2) decreases the future probability of that behavior.
reinforcer
An event that: (1) follows a behavior and (2) increases the future probability of that behavior.
secondary reinforcer
An event that is reinforcing because it has been associated with some other reinforcer. Also called a conditioned reinforcer.
shaping
The gradual creation of new operant behavior through reinforcement of successive approximations to that behavior.
three-term contingency
The relationship between a discriminative stimulus, an operant behavior, and a consequence (reinforcer or punisher).
positive reinforcement
presentation of a pleasant stimulus following a response, increasing the future strength of that response
negitive reinforcement
removal of an unpleasant stimulus following a response, increasing the future strength of that response
positive punishment
presentation of an unpleasant stimulus following a response, decreasing the future strength of that response
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