Reinforcement, Punishment, and Behavioral Consequences Free Online FlashCards

What is a consequence in operant conditioning?

An outcome that follows a behavior and can change how likely that behavior is to happen again.

What is reinforcement?

A consequence that makes a behavior more likely to happen again.

What is punishment?

A consequence that makes a behavior less likely to happen again.

What do positive and negative mean in consequence labels?

Positive means a stimulus is added; negative means a stimulus is removed. These terms do not mean good and bad.

What defines positive reinforcement?

A stimulus is added after a behavior, and the behavior becomes more likely.

What defines negative reinforcement?

A stimulus or condition is removed after a behavior, and the behavior becomes more likely.

What defines positive punishment?

A stimulus is added after a behavior, and the behavior becomes less likely.

What defines negative punishment?

A valued stimulus or opportunity is removed after a behavior, and the behavior becomes less likely.

A student gets a preferred job for timely homework, which then increases. What procedure is this?

Positive reinforcement: the preferred job is added, and on-time homework increases.

A student receives a reading sticker, but reading does not change. What can be concluded?

No reinforcement has been demonstrated: a stimulus was added, but the behavior did not increase.

How can teacher attention after calling out function differently?

The result depends on what happens to calling out: if it increases, attention is positive reinforcement; if it decreases, attention is positive punishment.

What determines whether a consequence is reinforcement or punishment?

Track what was added or removed and whether the behavior later increased or decreased. The effect, not the giver's intention, determines the classification.