PSYCH 1X03 Chapter Notes - Chapter 4: Operant Conditioning Chamber, Key Light, Step Function
1 Dec 2017
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Psychology 1x03; chapter 4; instrumental conditioning (assigned readings) Definition: the mechanism of learning that governs different types of behaviour in another form of associative learning. Instrumental conditioning involves forming new voluntary behaviours that direct goal-cantered actions. Thorndike"s most famous experience involves putting a cat in a box. Puzzle box" with a latched door, with food available just outside the door. The door could be opened to reach the food if the cat performed a simple action such as pulling a string or pressing a lever. The cat would then be placed back unto the box for another learning trial and observed to see how long it took to master this escape response. At first, you would meow loudly and claw aimlessly, getting nowhere near your goal of escaping the box. This goes on for a while until you accidentally claws at a dangling string, which opens the trapdoor.
