PSY 3103 Chapter Notes - Chapter 3: Operant Conditioning, Reinforcement
5 Apr 2016
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Document Summary
To perform a function, and produce an effect on the environment. Also called instrumental conditioning because the skills we learn are instrumental to producing outcomes. Creating reward outcomes and avoiding aversive ones. Based on the observation that voluntary behaviour is influenced by its effects- outcomes/consequences. Early version: behaviour that produces satisfying consequences become more frequent over time, while behaviour that produces discomfort tends to become less frequent over time. A:b c: where (a) is antecedent cues, (b) is behaviour, and (c) is consequences, cues come before behaviour and cue the appropriateness for behaviour(s), and the behaviour causes the consequences, operant behaviour is usually produced through voluntary nerves/muscles. During operant conditioning the consequences of a behaviour do two things: influence the frequency of the behaviour in the future, influence the ability of antecedent cues to set the occasion for that behaviour in the future.
