Deck 14: Establishing Behavior by Escape and Avoidance Conditioning

Question 1

Describe three types of immediate consequences that might maintain avoidance responses.

Answer 1

One possibility is that the avoidance response is strengthened because it terminates the warning stimulus.A second possibility is that the warning stimulus causes an individual to feel anxious, and immediately following an avoidance response, the individual feels less anxious.A third possibility is that the warning stimulus causes an individual to think unpleasant thoughts about the possible forthcoming punisher, and following a successful avoidance response, these thoughts cease.

Question 2

In what two procedural ways is negative reinforcement different from positive reinforcement? How are their effects similar?

Answer 2

Differences in procedure: (a)In negative reinforcement, an aversive stimulus is present prior to the response being conditioned, whereas in positive reinforcement, the reinforcer is not present prior to the response; (b)In negative reinforcement, the stimulus is removed contingent on the target response, whereas in positive reinforcement, the stimulus is presented contingent on the response.Similarity in effects: Both procedures increase the likelihood of the target response.

Question 3

Define avoidance conditioning, and describe how it was used with Joanne.

Answer 3

Avoidance conditioning states that a behavior will increase in frequency if it prevents an aversive stimulus from occurring.In the presence of the ticking sound (a warning stimulus), Joanne quickly learned to show good posture in order to avoid the backup aversive stimulus, the loud tone.

Question 4

Describe two examples of escape conditioning in everyday life, one of which is not in this chapter.

Question 5

Define escape conditioning, and describe how it was used with Joanne.

Question 6

Give an example of the inadvertent establishment of conditioned aversive stimuli, which then causes individuals to avoid or escape those stimuli.

Question 7

Briefly illustrate how people unknowingly strengthen others' undesirable behavior by allowing such behavior to lead to escape or avoidance of aversive stimuli.

Question 8

What is another name for escape conditioning, and why is it called that?

Question 9

What are two procedural differences between escape conditioning and avoidance conditioning?

Question 10

What is the name of the type of avoidance conditioning that involves a warning stimulus?

Question 11

Explain how escape conditioning might influence an adult to unknowingly positively reinforce a child's extreme social withdrawal.

Question 12

How is a warning stimulus different than an S^Dp ?

Question 13

What is Sidman avoidance conditioning?

Question 14

How is escape conditioning similar to punishment? In what two procedural ways do they differ? How do their effects differ?

Question 15

Explain how applying sunscreen or insect repellent might be an example of Sidman avoidance. Give another example from everyday life.(Hint: Some common computer applications have built-in timers that fit the definition of Sidman avoidance conditioning.)

Question 16

Describe how avoidance conditioning has been demonstrated in the hermit crab. Did this study also demonstrate escape conditioning? Explain.

Question 17

Describe two examples of avoidance conditioning in everyday life, one of which is not in this chapter.

Question 18

Give another name for warning stimulus.

Question 19

Explain with an example of your own why an individual might unknowingly positively reinforce the undesirable behavior of another individual.(Hint: See the first example in Table 14.1.) Clearly identify the behavior principles involved.