Behaviorism

• behaviorism & language relationship


  a domain-general theory (language is like all other behaviors), no innate biological factors that control language development (not nature), language develops because of environment (nurture)
• behaviorism


  "behavior" is what a child does, antecedent is an environmental stimulus, child says something (verbal response), adult reinforces behavior, adult shapes behavior
• operant conditioning


  voluntary behavior is strengthened or weakened by consequences and antecedents (behaviorism), learning occurs through a series of antecedent, behavior, consequence (ABCs), the selection/use of specific consequences and antecedents shapes behavior
• antecedent


  something that happens before a behavior happens

  
  

  ex: being told there's an exam
• behavior


  response to antecedent, voluntary control

  
  

  ex: study for exam
• consequence


  result of behavior

  
  

  ex: get a good grade
• continuous schedule of reinforcement


  after EVERY behavior
• intermittent schedules of reinforcement


  after SOME responses/ behaviors but not all
• fixed interval reinforcement


  after a SET period of time

  
  

  - learning: more responses as reinforcer gets closer

  - persistence: little, responses decrease if reinforcer isn't given as expected

  
  

  ex: after 10 minutes of homework, child gets candy
• variable interval reinforcement


  after a VARYING period of time

  
  

  - learning: slow and steady

  - persistence: good, responses stay fairly steady

  
  

  ex: candy after 5 minutes, then after 10, then after 5, etc.
• fixed ratio reinforcement


  after a set NUMBER of responses

  
  

  - learning: quick

  - persistence: little, responses decrease if no reinforcer when expected

  
  

  ex: give candy after completing every five math problems
• variable ratio reinforcement

  after a VARYING number of responses

  
  

  - learning: very quick, continues even after reinforcer

  - persistence: best, gradual decrease in responses if no reinforcer

  
  

  ex: gambling at slot machines, never know how many pulls to win
• reinforcement


  uses consequences that strengthen a behavior

  
  

  ex: giving a child reinforcement for doing something good/right
• positive reinforcement


  the consequence is the presence of a desired stimulus (ADDING stimulus)

  
  

  ex: strengthen behavior of doing homework by allowing a child to watch TV after they do
• negative reinforcement


  consequence is the removal of an adverse stimulus

  (TAKING AWAY stimulus)

  
  

  ex: Mom sits with child until they do homework, once they're done she leaves - encourages the behavior of doing homework
• punishment


  uses consequences that decrease/suppress behavior
• positive punishment


  consequence is the presence of an undesired stimulus to discourage a behavior

  
  

  ex: making a child do more chores when they misbehave
• negative punishment


  consequence is the removal of a desired stimulus

  
  

  ex: taking away their iPad as punishment for misbehaving
• classical conditioning


  an involuntary behavior becomes paired with a conditioned stimulus

  
  

  ex: Pavlov's dog experiment