PS261 Chapter Notes - Chapter 7: Negative Relationship, Reinforcement, Edward Thorndike
Chapter Seven: Instrumental Conditioning − Motivational Mechanisms
Ch 7.2 − The Assoiatie “truture of Istruetal Coditioig
- Edward Thorndike: recognized that instrumental conditioning involves more than just a
response and a reinforcer
o Instrumental response occurs in the context of specific environmental stimuli
- Skinner described instrumental conditioning in terms of a three-term contingency:
1. The stimulus context (S)
2. The instrumental response (R)
3. The response outcome/reinforcer (O)
Ch 7.2.a − “-R Assoiatios & the La of Effet
Law of Effect
- Thorndike concluded that R occurs because S triggers an S-R association
o O increases/decreases strength of the association
▪ But not a part of the association
- The problem with this idea:
o There is evidence that animals are representing O
S-R Mechanisms & Habitual Behaviour
- Habits constitute about 45% of all human behaviour
o Anything done automatically, without thinking, is habitual behaviour
▪ Often reactions to stimuli in the environment
• Much like S-R associations
- So, behaviours are performed not for the consequences
o The behaviour is triggered by the situation
Holland (2004)
- Experiment:
o Rats trained to press levers for food
▪ Groups with either 5, 10, or 20 training sessions
• Half the rats of each group received devalued food
o Paired with illness
o Lever pressing then tested for extinction
▪ Group with devalued food − highest response suppression
• Suppression varied depending on how much training
o Rats with more training − still pressed lever (habit)
- Results:
o With extensive training, behaviours occur not because of consequence
▪ Behaviours are triggered by the situation
Ch 7.2.b − “-O Assoiatios & Reard Expetaies
Two-Process Theory of Instrumental Conditioning
- Two-Process Theory: Rescorla and Solomon (1967)
o Instrumental conditioning has two components
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
Ch 7. 2 (cid:862)the asso(cid:272)iati(cid:448)e tru(cid:272)ture of i(cid:374)stru(cid:373)e(cid:374)tal co(cid:374)ditio(cid:374)i(cid:374)g(cid:863) Edward thorndike: recognized that instrumental conditioning involves more than just a response and a reinforcer. Instrumental response occurs in the context of specific environmental stimuli. Skinner described instrumental conditioning in terms of a three-term contingency: the stimulus context (s, the instrumental response (r, the response outcome/reinforcer (o) Ch 7. 2. a (cid:862) -r asso(cid:272)iatio(cid:374)s & the la(cid:449) of effe(cid:272)t(cid:863) Thorndike concluded that r occurs because s triggers an s-r association: o increases/decreases strength of the association, but not a part of the association. The problem with this idea: there is evidence that animals are representing o. Habits constitute about 45% of all human behaviour: anything done automatically, without thinking, is habitual behaviour, often reactions to stimuli in the environment, much like s-r associations. So, behaviours are performed not for the consequences: the behaviour is triggered by the situation. Results: with extensive training, behaviours occur not because of consequence, behaviours are triggered by the situation.
