PSYB45H3 Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Classical Conditioning
Document Summary
Lec04: schedules of reinforcement & stimulus discrimination and generalization. Exmining increasingly more complex ways in which reinforcement can be applied. Intermittent reinforcement: continuous: a response is reinforced everytime, intermittent: a response is reinforced sometimes (more resistant to extinction) Free-operant procedure: no constraints on the individual"s responses, free to respond repeatedly. Discrete-trials procedure: a distinct stimulus is presented prior to an opportunity to respond, the individual"s responses are limited to the rate at which the stimuli is presented. The usual behavioral patterns that each type of intermittent schedule of reinforcement is supposed to produce are largely based on animal research: found very consistently in animals, less consistency when studied among humans. Generally best to provide continuous reinforcement during initial learning behavior (acquisition phase) and switch to intermittent reinforcement to maintain behavior. Advantages of intermittent reinforcement for maintenance of behavior. Reinforcers remains effective longer because satiation takes place more slowly. Behavior that has been reinforced intermittent tends to take longer to extinguish.
