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  2. MCAT Psychological Social Foundations
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MCAT Psychological Social Foundations Flashcards: 7c Operant Conditioning Reinforcement

Study 7c Operant Conditioning Reinforcement in MCAT Psychological Social Foundations with focused flashcards that help you recognize the idea, recall the key rule, and apply it in practice-style prompts.

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What this deck covers

This deck focuses on 7c Operant Conditioning Reinforcement, giving you a quick way to review the definitions, rules, and examples that matter most for MCAT Psychological Social Foundations.

How to use these flashcards

Work through these flashcards in short sessions. Try to answer each prompt before flipping the card, then revisit any cards you miss until the explanation feels automatic.

MCAT Psychological Social Foundations Flashcards: 7c Operant Conditioning Reinforcement

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QUESTION

What is negative punishment?

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ANSWER

Removing a desirable stimulus to decrease a behavior. "Negative" means removing; loss of privileges weakens behavior.

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All flashcards

Flashcard 1: What is negative punishment?

Answer: Removing a desirable stimulus to decrease a behavior. "Negative" means removing; loss of privileges weakens behavior.

Flashcard 2: Identify the schedule: reinforcement is delivered after a fixed amount of time.

Answer: Fixed-interval (FI) schedule. Time-based: first response after set time period gets reinforced.

Flashcard 3: What is a variable-interval (VI) reinforcement schedule?

Answer: Reinforcement for the first response after varying time intervals. Unpredictable timing produces slow, steady response rate.

Flashcard 4: What is shaping in operant conditioning?

Answer: Reinforcing successive approximations toward a target behavior. Gradually builds complex behaviors by rewarding small steps.

Flashcard 5: Identify whether this is reinforcement or punishment: A child gets candy for cleaning a room.

Answer: Positive reinforcement. Candy (pleasant) is added to increase cleaning behavior.

Flashcard 6: What is negative punishment in operant conditioning?

Answer: Removing a desired stimulus to decrease a behavior. "Negative" means removing; taking away privileges punishes.

Flashcard 7: What is positive punishment in operant conditioning?

Answer: Adding an aversive stimulus to decrease a behavior. "Positive" means adding; punishment decreases behavior.

Flashcard 8: What is negative reinforcement in operant conditioning?

Answer: Removing an aversive stimulus to increase a behavior. "Negative" means removing something unpleasant as a reward.

Flashcard 9: What is positive reinforcement in operant conditioning?

Answer: Adding a stimulus to increase the likelihood of a behavior. "Positive" means adding something pleasant as a reward.

Flashcard 10: Identify whether this is reinforcement or punishment: Seatbelt buzzer stops when buckled.

Answer: Negative reinforcement. Annoying buzzer removed increases buckling behavior.

Flashcard 11: Identify whether this is reinforcement or punishment: Phone privileges removed after curfew violation.

Answer: Negative punishment. Desired privilege removed decreases curfew violations.

Flashcard 12: What is shaping in operant conditioning?

Answer: Reinforcing successive approximations toward a target behavior. Gradually rewarding behaviors closer to the desired goal.

Flashcard 13: What is a primary reinforcer?

Answer: Inherently rewarding stimulus (e.g., food, water, warmth). Satisfies biological needs without prior learning.

Flashcard 14: What is a conditioned (secondary) reinforcer?

Answer: Learned reinforcer paired with a primary reinforcer (e.g., money). Gains value through association with primary reinforcers.

Flashcard 15: What is the Premack principle in operant conditioning?

Answer: High-probability behavior reinforces a low-probability behavior. "First eat vegetables, then dessert" uses preferred activities as rewards.

Flashcard 16: What is extinction in operant conditioning?

Answer: Decrease in behavior after reinforcement is withheld. Behavior stops when consequences no longer follow it.

Flashcard 17: What is a variable interval (VI) schedule of reinforcement?

Answer: First response after a variable time interval is reinforced. Like checking email; unpredictable timing maintains steady responding.

Flashcard 18: What is a fixed interval (FI) schedule of reinforcement?

Answer: First response after a fixed time interval is reinforced. Like checking mail at specific delivery times.

Flashcard 19: What is a variable ratio (VR) schedule of reinforcement?

Answer: Reinforcement after an unpredictable number of responses. Like slot machines; most resistant to extinction.

Flashcard 20: What is a fixed ratio (FR) schedule of reinforcement?

Answer: Reinforcement after a set number of responses. Like piece-rate pay; predictable reward after specific output.

Flashcard 21: What is a continuous reinforcement schedule (CRF)?

Answer: Reinforcement delivered after every occurrence of the behavior. Every correct response gets reinforced; fastest learning but quick extinction.

Flashcard 22: What is positive reinforcement?

Answer: Adding a stimulus to increase a behavior. "Positive" means adding; rewards strengthen the behavior.

Flashcard 23: What is a variable-interval (VI) reinforcement schedule?

Answer: Reinforcement for the first response after varying time intervals. Unpredictable timing produces steady, moderate responding.

Flashcard 24: Identify the schedule: checking email because messages arrive at unpredictable times after checking.

Answer: Variable-interval (VI) schedule. Messages arrive unpredictably after checking behavior.

Flashcard 25: What is positive punishment?

Answer: Adding a stimulus to decrease a behavior. "Positive" means adding; aversive consequences weaken behavior.

Flashcard 26: What is negative reinforcement?

Answer: Removing an aversive stimulus to increase a behavior. "Negative" means removing; relief from discomfort strengthens behavior.

Flashcard 27: What is reinforcement in operant conditioning?

Answer: A consequence that increases the future frequency of a behavior. Strengthens behavior by making it more likely to occur again.

Flashcard 28: What is punishment in operant conditioning?

Answer: A consequence that decreases the future frequency of a behavior. Weakens behavior by making it less likely to occur again.

Flashcard 29: What is positive reinforcement?

Answer: Adding a stimulus to increase a behavior. Like giving praise or rewards to encourage behavior.

Flashcard 30: What is negative reinforcement?

Answer: Removing an aversive stimulus to increase a behavior. Like stopping nagging when chores are done.