Operant Conditioning
- Organisms associate their own actions with consequences
- Actions followed by reinforcers increase
- Actions followed by punishment decrease
Reinforcement
Any event that strengthens (increases the frequency of) a preceding response
Shaping
An operant conditioning procedure in which reinforcers guide behavior toward closer and closer approximations of the desired behavior
Punishment
Any consequence that decreases the frequency of a preceding behavior
Discriminiative Stimulus
A stimulus that elicits a response after association with reinforcement (in contrast to related stimuli not associated with reinforcement)
Postive REinforcement
- Increasing behaviors by presenting positive reinforcers
- Any stimulus that, when presented after a response, strengthens the response
Negative Reinforcement
- Increasing behaviors by stopping or reducing negative stimuli
- Any stimulus that, when removed, after a response, strengthens the response
Positive Punishment
Decrease the frequency of a preceding behavior by administering an adverse (unfavorable) stimulus
Negative Punishment
Decrease the frequency of a preceding behavior by withdrawing a rewarding stimulus