PSY 115: Ch. 4

Something added increases behavior.

Something removed increases behavior.

Something added decreases behavior.

Something removed decreases behavior.

Something that the organism naturally enjoys (sex, eating food, etc).

Something the animal must learn to like (receiving a paycheck, etc).

Reward occurs after a fixed amount of time (receiving a paycheck every two weeks, etc).

Reinforcers are distributed over a varing amount of time.

If a behavior is performed "X" amount of times, there will be one reinforcement on the "X^th" performance (Aerie-- Buy 5 bras, get the 6th free).

Reinforcers are distributed based on the average number of correct behaviors. A ratio of 1:3 means that, on average, 1 in every 3 behaviors is reinforced.

If a reinforcer fails to occur after a behavior that has been reinforced in the past, the behavior might extinguish.

An animal may repeat a behavior over and over again in a burst of activity when a behavior that has been strongly reinforced in the past.

"Unlearned". Noun. A thing that naturally and automatically triggers a response.

"Unlearned". Verb. Response that occurs naturally in response to the unconditional stimulus.

"Learned". Noun. A previously neutral stimulus that, after becoming associated with the unconditional stimulus, eventually comes to trigger a conditioned response. (Quack & BB gun are unrelated & quack sound was neutral. Now, the quack sound makes the boy duck and cover. Quack = Conditional Stimulus.)

"Learned". Verb. Learned reaction to the previously neutral stimulus. (Duck and cover is the reaction to the previously neutral stimulus, the quack.)