Exam #2Study Guide
★ BEHAVIOR & STIMULI ↷
● Phylogenetic behavior: Unlearned, innate behaviors acquired through genetics.
○ EXAMPLE: A baby grasping anything you place in its hand.
■ HINT: Phylogenic → “Personal”!
● Ontogenetic behavior: Learned behaviors acquired through experience.
○ EXAMPLE: Learning to ride a bike.
■ HINT: Ontogenic → “Operational”!
● Reflexive response: An unlearned, automatic response to a stimulus; US → UR
○ NOTE: This is tied to respondent behavior and elicited responses!
○ EXAMPLE: Blinking when there’s an eyelash in your eye.
■ HINT: Pretty self-explanatory; just a natural reflex!
● Operant response: A learned response controlled by operant conditioning and
consequences; CS → CR
○ NOTE: This is tied to operant behavior and emitted/evoked responses!
○ EXAMPLE: Hitting the brakes when there’s a red light.
● Three-term contingency: The order in which things interact; It’s the same format!
1. Antecedent → Behavior → Consequence
2. SD → Response → Consequence
● Functions of behavior
○ Behavior can be defined in 2 ways ↴
a. Topography: The form of a behavior; how was it done?
i. EXAMPLE: He shook his hand left and right.
, b. Function: The purpose of a behavior; what did it accomplish?
i. EXAMPLE: He shook his hand to say goodbye.
ii. NOTE: This is how we usually define behavior!
● Operant Stimulus Functions ↴
○ Reinforcer: Any stimulus after a behavior that ↑ the chances of it occurring.
○ Discriminative stimulus (SD): Anything that precedes a behavior and ↑ the
chance of behavior occurring.
■ EXAMPLE: A "green light" signaling it’s ok to cross.
● HINT: Dad = SD = “Do it!”
○ Stimulus delta (S∆): A stimulus that signals that reinforcement isn’t available
and ↓ the chance of a response occurring.
■ EXAMPLE: A "red light" signaling you should stop.
● HINT: Mom = Delta = “Don’t even try!”
○ Punisher: Any stimulus after a behavior that ↓ the chances of it occurring.
★ PUNISHMENT 101! (because the concept isn’t clear enough…)
● Punishment: A behavioral contingency that ↓ the likeness of a behavior occurring.
!! INTERESTING FACTS !!
● ↑ Intensity = ↑ Effectiveness (but there may be ethical concerns).
○ Also, punishment + reinforcement (of desired behavior) = effective!
● Punishment is more effective when delivered immediately after a behavior.
★ BEHAVIOR & STIMULI ↷
● Phylogenetic behavior: Unlearned, innate behaviors acquired through genetics.
○ EXAMPLE: A baby grasping anything you place in its hand.
■ HINT: Phylogenic → “Personal”!
● Ontogenetic behavior: Learned behaviors acquired through experience.
○ EXAMPLE: Learning to ride a bike.
■ HINT: Ontogenic → “Operational”!
● Reflexive response: An unlearned, automatic response to a stimulus; US → UR
○ NOTE: This is tied to respondent behavior and elicited responses!
○ EXAMPLE: Blinking when there’s an eyelash in your eye.
■ HINT: Pretty self-explanatory; just a natural reflex!
● Operant response: A learned response controlled by operant conditioning and
consequences; CS → CR
○ NOTE: This is tied to operant behavior and emitted/evoked responses!
○ EXAMPLE: Hitting the brakes when there’s a red light.
● Three-term contingency: The order in which things interact; It’s the same format!
1. Antecedent → Behavior → Consequence
2. SD → Response → Consequence
● Functions of behavior
○ Behavior can be defined in 2 ways ↴
a. Topography: The form of a behavior; how was it done?
i. EXAMPLE: He shook his hand left and right.
, b. Function: The purpose of a behavior; what did it accomplish?
i. EXAMPLE: He shook his hand to say goodbye.
ii. NOTE: This is how we usually define behavior!
● Operant Stimulus Functions ↴
○ Reinforcer: Any stimulus after a behavior that ↑ the chances of it occurring.
○ Discriminative stimulus (SD): Anything that precedes a behavior and ↑ the
chance of behavior occurring.
■ EXAMPLE: A "green light" signaling it’s ok to cross.
● HINT: Dad = SD = “Do it!”
○ Stimulus delta (S∆): A stimulus that signals that reinforcement isn’t available
and ↓ the chance of a response occurring.
■ EXAMPLE: A "red light" signaling you should stop.
● HINT: Mom = Delta = “Don’t even try!”
○ Punisher: Any stimulus after a behavior that ↓ the chances of it occurring.
★ PUNISHMENT 101! (because the concept isn’t clear enough…)
● Punishment: A behavioral contingency that ↓ the likeness of a behavior occurring.
!! INTERESTING FACTS !!
● ↑ Intensity = ↑ Effectiveness (but there may be ethical concerns).
○ Also, punishment + reinforcement (of desired behavior) = effective!
● Punishment is more effective when delivered immediately after a behavior.
