Behavioral Reinforcement and Conditioning Theory Quiz

Positive reinforcement involves adding a pleasant stimulus to increase the likelihood of a behavior recurring.

Negative reinforcement is when a certain stimulus is removed to increase the likelihood of a behavior occurring.

B.F. Skinner is credited with the development of operant conditioning theory.

Social learning involves learning by observing others and imitating their behaviors.

Extinction is the process by which a learned response weakens and eventually disappears.

Primary reinforcers are inherently rewarding stimuli, like food or water, that do not require learning to be appreciated.

Negative punishment involves removing a desirable stimulus to decrease the likelihood of a behavior recurring.

Edward Thorndike proposed the Law of Effect, which suggests that behaviors followed by favorable outcomes are more likely to be repeated.

Social learning theory involves learning by observing others and imitating their behaviors.

Albert Bandura is associated with social learning theory, emphasizing the role of observational learning in behavior.

Punishment in operant conditioning involves adding an aversive stimulus to decrease the likelihood of a behavior happening again.

Variable Ratio reinforcement schedule delivers reinforcement after an unpredictable number of responses, leading to high response rates.

Shaping involves reinforcing successive approximations of the desired behavior until the full behavior is achieved.

Extinction refers to the gradual weakening and eventual disappearance of a conditioned response.

Variable Ratio reinforcement schedule typically leads to the highest response rates.

Fixed Ratio reinforcement schedule delivers reinforcement after a predetermined number of responses.

Discrimination is the process of learning to respond only to a specific stimulus and not to similar stimuli.

Extinction is the process of gradually reducing the frequency of a behavior by removing reinforcement.

Variable Ratio reinforcement schedule delivers reinforcement after an unpredictable number of responses, maintaining a steady rate of response.

Successive approximation involves reinforcing behaviors that are progressively closer to the desired behavior.

Variable Ratio reinforcement schedule delivers reinforcement after a varying number of responses, but with the average number of responses required to receive reinforcement remaining constant.

Spontaneous recovery refers to the reappearance of an extinguished response after a rest period.

In operant conditioning, extinction refers to the gradual weakening and eventual disappearance of a conditioned response.

Spontaneous recovery is the reappearance of an extinguished response after a period of rest following extinction.

Spontaneous recovery is the reappearance of a previously extinguished conditioned response after a rest period.