PSYC2010 Study Guide - Final Guide: Reinforcement, Operant Conditioning, Nucleus Accumbens
17 Oct 2018
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Document Summary
Instrumental conditioning (or operant conditioning) is a learning process in which behaviour is modified by the reinforcement or consequence of its outcome. The subject"s response determines the outcome of a situation, and this outcome then influences their future behaviour. Factors affecting instrumental conditioning include: temporal contiguity the time between the response (r) and reinforcement (rft, shorter time gives stronger temporal contiguity. Reinforcement increases the likelihood of a repeated response. A behaviour may be reinforced or punished in either a positive (action taken) or negative (no action taken) way. Secondary reinforcement is when a previously neutral stimulus becomes associated with the reward (via classical conditioning), acquiring rft properties. Secondary reinforcers are great for improving temporal contiguity e. g. dog clickers. Partial (prf: ratio (number based) or interval (time based, fixed or variable. Shaping is when a behaviour is learnt by the rewarding of successive approximations until the goal behaviour is accomplished.
