5B Operant conditioning

Question 1

When and who helped us discover operant conditioning

Answer 1

• 1948
• psychologist B.F. Skinner

Question 2

What did Skinner do

Answer 2

• Trained mice and pigeons to perform certain behaviours
  e.g
  pressing a lever or matching a colourned panel and coloured light
• by rewarding them with food each time they carried out the correct behaviour

Question 3

Operant conditioning (operant meaning)

Answer 3

A learning process where the likelihood of voluntary behaviour occuring is determined by its consequences

operant = operating to produce an effect

Question 4

Operant conditioning vs classical conditioning (passive vs active)

Answer 4

Operant = active - learner is voluntary aware of their behaviour in response to stimuli

Classical = passive - learner is unvoluntary unaware of their behaviour in response to stimuli CHECK

Question 5

Three-phase model of operant conditioning

Answer 5

Antecedent- any environmental stimulus that triggers an action

Behaviour- any action

Consequence- something that makes the behaviour more or less likely to occur again

Question 6

When has the learning occured

Answer 6

when an association is made between the behaviour and its consequence.

This can either strengthen or weaken the likelihood of the behaviour occuring again, depending on the consequence

Question 7

Consequences in operant conditioning

Answer 7

• Reinforcement
• Punishment

Question 8

Reinforcement

Answer 8

A stimulus from the environment that increases the likelihood of a behaviour reocurring

Question 9

Positive reinforcement

Answer 9

behaviour is followed by adding a desirable or pleasant stimulus, increasing the likelihood of the behaviour occuring again

Question 10

Negative reinforcement

Answer 10

behaviour is followed by the removal of an undesirable stimulus, increasing the likellihood of the behaviour occuring again

Question 11

Punishment

Answer 11

A stimulus from the environment that decreases the likelihood of a behaviour reoccuring

Question 12

Positive punishment

Answer 12

when a behaviour is followed by adding an undesirable or unpleasant stimulus, decreasing the likelihood of the behaviour occuring again

Question 13

Negative punishment

Answer 13

when a behaviour is followed by the removal of a desirable or pleasant stimulus, decreasing the likelihood of the behaviour occurring again