SOC 2700 Chapter Notes - Chapter 12: Differential Association, Behaviorism, Operant Conditioning

• School: University of Guelph
• Department: Sociology
• Course: SOC 2700
• Professor: Stephanie Howells

Document Summary

Reinforcement and punishment determine whether the frequency of and particular behaviour is increased or diminished. Reinforcement is positive (a reward is given) or negative (a punishment is removed) Punishment is positive (there is a presence of an adverse stimuli) or negative (removes a normally present reward) Schedule of consequences refers to the frequency with and probability that a consequence will occur as well as length of time after the behaviour occurs. Theory also considers the concept of imitation/modeling as central to the learning process (person can be vicariously reinforced : jeffery"s differential reinforcement theory: Added into differential association theory by retracting the social aspect and adding non-social explanations for behaviour. Added satiation (doesn"t need to do something because of their satisfied situation and stimulus is less reinforcing) and deprivation (lacks something therefore are not satisfied in their situation and stimulus is more reinforcing) to the six operant principles. Not everyone has the same past experiences therefore conditioning histories are different.