B.F. Skinner – Learning Theory

type of conditioning studied by Pavlov and used by J.B. Watson as a model for his version of behaviorism; stimulus conditioning

response conditioning; modification of response strength by manipulation of the consequences of the response; responses that are followed by a reinforcer gain in strength, responses not followed by a reinforcer become weaker

elicits an automatic, natural response; also called a primary reinforcer because conditioning ultimately depends on the presence of a ___

natural, automatic response elicited by an unconditioned stimulus

by itself, doesn't elicit unconditioned response; elicits a conditioned response when paired with an unconditional stimulus

"same" response as unconditioned response, but made in response to conditioned stimulus

frequency with which an operant response is made before it is systematically reinforced

behavior that cannot be linked to any known stimulus and therefore appears to be emitted rather than elicited

gradual development of a response that an organism does not normally make; requires differential reinforcement and successive approximations; procedure in which the experimenter/environment rewards

situation in which only those responses that are increasingly similar to the one ultimately desired are reinforced

situation in which some responses are reinforced and others are not

results in increase in likelihood of behavior

add something, present to increase likelihood of behavior

take something away (something aversive) to increase likelihood of behavior

results in decrease in likelihood of behavior

presenting something to decrease the likelihood of a behavior (EX: spanking, yelling)

taking something away (something desirable) to decrease the likelihood of a behavior (EX: taking away phone/allowance/privileges)

tendency of a previously acquired behavior (response) to become progressively weakened upon non-reinforcement

could cause: patient to become fearful, teaches only what not to do, justifies infliction of pain (physical and/or psychological)

related to survival; food, water, oxygen, and sexual activity; not biologically neutral - needed for survival

negative reinforcer that threatens an organism's survival - EX: pain or oxygen deprivation

positive reinforcer that enhances an organism's survival - EX: food or water

originally biologically neutral and not reinforcing; acquire reinforcing properties through association with primary reinforcers; responsible for most human behavior

reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response that is made only after a specified interval of time has passed - EX: weekly or monthly salary; only one response needed

reinforcement schedule that reinforces every Nth response - EX: every fifth response the organism makes is reinforced; more work - more pay; produces high rate of responding; EX: commission

reinforcement schedule in which a certain average time interval must pass before a response will be reinforced; number not important but time; after 5, 10, 2 seconds - reward

reinforcement schedule in which a certain average number of responses need to be made before reinforcement is obtained; reinforcement can be close or far apart - uncertainty keeps you responding - EX: gambling; highest rate of responding, lowest rate of extinction

part of an unhealthy personality; drug taking, excessively vigorous or restrained behavior, defective self-knowledge, self-punishment

high on generating research and guiding action; high on falsifiability and parsimony; moderate on organizing knowledge; high on determinism - no free will; high on optimism because of change

causality over teleology; determinism over free will; uniqueness over similarity; optimism over pessimism