Operant Conditioning - AP Psychology

Positive reinforcement. Adding a treat increases likelihood of sitting behavior.

A more preferred activity can reinforce a less preferred activity. High-probability behaviors reinforce low-probability behaviors.

Primary reinforcers satisfy biological needs; secondary reinforcers are learned. Primary are innate; secondary are learned through association.

Negative reinforcement. Taking away something unpleasant strengthens the target behavior.

Positive reinforcement. Adding something pleasant strengthens the target behavior.

Fixed-ratio schedule. One sticker per homework creates a 1:1 response-reinforcement ratio.

Variable-interval schedule. Messages arrive at unpredictable times, maintaining checking behavior.

Variable-ratio schedule. Payouts occur after unpredictable numbers of plays.

Removing a stimulus to decrease an undesired behavior. Take away something pleasant to weaken behavior (time-out, fines).

Removing a stimulus to increase a desired behavior. Take away something unpleasant to strengthen behavior (escape/avoidance).

A cue that signals the availability of reinforcement. Environmental signal indicating when reinforcement is available.

Reinforcement is given after a set number of responses. Predictable reinforcement based on number of behaviors performed.

Reinforcement is given after an unpredictable number of responses. Unpredictable reinforcement creates persistent, steady responding.

Reinforcement is given after a set amount of time. Predictable time-based reinforcement regardless of response frequency.

Produces high and steady response rates. Unpredictable timing creates resistance to extinction.

Produces high response rates with pauses after reinforcement. Predictable ratio creates brief pauses after each reward.

Produces responses that increase as the time for reinforcement approaches. Shows scalloped pattern with low rates early, high rates near deadline.

Produces slow and steady response rates. Unpredictable timing eliminates the scalloped response pattern.

Reinforcing successive approximations toward a desired behavior. Gradually reinforces behaviors closer to the final target behavior.

A more preferred activity can reinforce a less preferred activity. High-probability behaviors reinforce low-probability behaviors.

A stimulus that decreases the likelihood of a behavior being repeated. Any consequence that makes a behavior less likely to occur again.

Fixed-ratio schedule. Reinforcement occurs after every 10th response consistently.

Fixed-interval schedule. Reinforcement occurs at consistent 5-minute intervals.

Positive punishment. Adding something unpleasant weakens the target behavior.

A stimulus that increases the likelihood of a behavior being repeated. Any consequence that makes a behavior more likely to occur again.

A cue that signals the availability of reinforcement. Environmental signal indicating when reinforcement is available.

A behavior that is modified by its consequences. Voluntary behavior that operates on the environment for consequences.

A reinforcer that gains value through association with primary reinforcers. Learned reinforcer through pairing with primary reinforcers.

A system where tokens are earned for desired behaviors and exchanged for rewards. Uses secondary reinforcers as intermediate rewards for target behaviors.