Operant Conditioning

learning_notes

Last updated: 8/16/2025

The Law of Effect: behaviors with reinforcing consequences are more likely to be repeated; behaviors with punishing consequences are not as likely to be repeated

Positive/Negative Reinforcement/Punishment: reinforcement increases behavior, punishment decreases behavior; positive gives you something, negative takes something away from you

Reinforcement Schedule: Continuous (= 1:1 fixed ratio) or Intermittant

Intermittant Schedule: Fixed Ratio (x behavior: 1 reinforcer), Fixed Interval (salary), Variable Ratio (gambling), Variable Interval (fishing)

Related Phenomenon Superstitious Behavior: illusory cause-and-effect Learned Helplessness: stop trying when nothing can change/remove a negative experience Secondary Reinforcement: it's like the higher-order learning in operant conditioning Token Economy: classic secondary reinforcement (money system, reward point system) Shaping: trains a complex set of behavior from the simplest and increase difficulty Chaining: trains a series of behavior (circus animal shows)

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