PSY 3103 Lecture Notes - Lecture 6: Contiguity, Operant Conditioning, Reinforcement

• School: University of Ottawa
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSY 3103
• Professor: Catherine Plowright

Document Summary

Lecture: goal directed behaviour: instrumental or operant conditioning. Instrumental conditioning: a method of learning where the individual"s behaviour is modified based on reinforcing or inhabiting consequences. The law of effect: one of the most important concepts in learning theory. Abcs of applied behaviour analysis: antecedent, behaviour, consequence example: joe"s stereotypical ear covering joe covered heard screaming (antecedent), covered his ears (behaviour), and received a positive consequence (silence) therefore he continued the behaviour. Shaping behaviour: a behaviour that is shaped must be in the animal"s repertoire. The reinforcer must be relevant to the individual. Example: inpatient learning to speak again using chewing gum as a reinforcer. The four procedures of goal directed behaviour: positive contingencies: response predicts probable occurrence of a stimulus. The stimulus can appetitive or adverse, the presentation of the stimulus can be satisfying (sr) or unsatisfying (sp). If the stimulus is appetitive/satisfying the behaviour will increase. If the behaviour is aversive/unsatisfying the behaviour will decrease.