PSYC214 Chapter 7: Instrumental Conditioning- Motivational Mechanisms
Document Summary
Motivation of instrumental behaviour has been considered from 2 different perspectives. Focuses on individual responses and their specific stimulus antecedents and outcomes. It examines instrumental learning in isolated behaviour preparations. It provided a convenient framework for studying the neural mechanisms of instrumental conditioning. Thorndike was the first to recognise that instrumental conditioning involves more than just a response and a reinforcer. The instrumental response occurs in the context of specific environmental stimuli. Turning on your car occurs in the context of being in the drivers seat with the key in your hand. There are 3 events to consider in an analysis of instrumental learning. There are many different types of association in instrumental conditioning. The s-r association and the law of effect. S-r association: an association between the contextual stimulus (s) and the instrumental response (r ) Thorndike considered this association to be key to instrumental learning and the law of effect.
