PSYC 102: APPLIED PSYCHOLOGY

Study Questions

Chapter 3 (8th Ed.)

 

1.   Define positive reinforcer, positive reinforcement, deprivation, satiation, motivating operations, instructions and natural reinforcers.

 

2.   Briefly describe eight factors that influence the effectiveness of a positive reinforcement.

 

3.   Give two reasons why you want to be very specific about identifying the behaviors to be reinforced.

 

4.   Classify five general categories of positive reinforcers and provide a personal example of each.

 

5.   What is the Premack Principle?

 

6.   Why have psychologists found it advantageous to let people choose from several types of reinforcers?

 

***NOTE:  An object or event is a positive reinforcer ONLY when there is an increase in the behavior the reinforcer follows.

 

7.      How is feeding a child salty foods an motivating operation?

 

***NOTE: Deprivation increases the effectiveness of a reinforcers and satiation decreases the effectiveness of a reinforcer.

 

8.   Does a person have to understand or be aware of why he/she was reinforced?

 

9.   How do giving instructions help when trying to change a person's behavior?

 

10. When is using a positive reinforcer most effective?

 

11. What is the difference between a contingent and non-contingent use of reinforcement?

 

12.  Identify a natural reinforcer that occurs periodically in your life?

 

13. What is one pitfall to positive reinforcement?

 

14. On page 46,  be able to identify four qualities a reinforcer outlined in guideline 2a.