| A | B |
|---|
| B.F. Skinner | The American Behaviorist responsible for the development of the operant conditioning |
| Operant Conditioning | Learning that occurs when a behavior is strengthened or diminished based upon reinforcement used |
| Operant behavior | A behavior that creates a response from the environment |
| Respondent behavior | An automatic response to a stimulus |
| Law of Effect | The ideas that behaviors that are followed by a favorable consequence will be repeated; followed by an unfavorable consequence will diminish |
| Skinner Box (Operant Chamber) | A recording device used in animal research on operant conditioning |
| Shaping | The use of reinforcers to gradually guide behavior to a desired end |
| Reinforcement | Any event that strengthens, or increases the frequency of, a preceding response (behavior) |
| Positive Reinforcement | The presentation of favorable or pleasureable stimulus |
| Negative Reinforcemnt | The removal of an aversive stimulus (punishment) |
| Punishment | An event that decreases the behavior that it follows |
| Primary Reinforcers | A reinforcer that satisfies a biological need (do not need to be learned) |
| Conditioned (Secondary) Reinforcers | Learned reinforcers, they work because they are with primary reinforcers. |
| Continuous Reinforcement | Reinforcing the desired response every time it occurs |
| Partial Reinforcement | Reinforcing something only part of the time |
| Fixed-Ratio Schedule of Reinforcement | Reinforcement that comes only after a set number of responses have occurred |
| Variable Ration Schedule of Reinforcement | Reinforcement that comes after an unpredictable number of responses |
| Fixed Interval Schedule of Reinforcement | Reinforcement that comes after a set time period |
| Variable Interval Schedule of Reinforcement | Reinforcement that comes after an unpredictable period of time |
| Intrinsic Motivation | A desire to perform a behavior for its own sake |
| Extrinsic Motivation | A desire to perform a behavior due to promised rewards or threat of punishment |
| Latent Learning | Learning that occurs but is not apparent until there is an incentive to demonstrate it |
| Cognitive Map | A mental representation of the layout of one's environment. |
