Idea by Skinner (1938). Organisms spontaneously produce different behaviours which produce different consequences. If a consequence is desirable then the organism will repeat this behaviour.
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What is Positive Reinforcement?
Something in the environment that strengthens a behaviour. If an organism is rewarded for a behaviour, it is more likely to be repeated.
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What is Negative Reinforcement?
Something in the environment that weakens a behaviour. If an organism is negatively consequenced for a behaviour, it is less likely to be repeated. e.g. electric shock.
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Limitations of Operant Conditioning.
Only tested on non-humans which doesn't benefit human research that much. People argued that, unlike animals, humans have free will. Skinner said free will was an illusion.
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Strengths of Operant Conditioning.
Relied on the experimental method which uses controlled conditions. He was able to establish the cause and effect relationship.
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What is Classical Conditioning?
All animals have a set of natural reflexes like salivation. Classical conditioning trains the reflexes to occur with different stimuli e.g. a bell.
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What did Pavlov do?
He trained a dog's natural salivation reflex to be caused by new stimuli (a bell).
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What are the strengths of classical conditioning?
Developed treatments for reduction of anxiety associated with phobias.
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What are the Limitations of Classical Conditioning?
Different species face different challenges to survive so they have different capabilities to learn from this. The CS and the UCS can be harder to establish in some species.
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Other cards in this set
Card 2
Front
What is Positive Reinforcement?
Back
Something in the environment that strengthens a behaviour. If an organism is rewarded for a behaviour, it is more likely to be repeated.
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