Question

Describe how partial reinforcement and different schedules of reinforcement yield distinct patterns of responding including extinction

Answer 1

Partial reinforcement is a type of reinforcement schedule where the person or animal is not rewarded every time they perform a desired behavior. Different schedules of reinforcement, such as variable ratio, yield distinct patterns of responding and are resistant to extinction.

Step-by-step explanation:

Partial reinforcement, also known as intermittent reinforcement, is a type of reinforcement schedule where the person or animal is not rewarded every time they perform a desired behavior. There are different types of partial reinforcement schedules, including fixed and variable schedules based on either ratio or interval. In a variable ratio reinforcement schedule, the number of responses needed for a reward varies, making it the most powerful and resistant to extinction.

For example, in a variable ratio schedule, a gambler may win on the 10th try, then on the 20th try, and so on, with no predictable pattern. This unpredictability leads to high and steady response rates, making the behavior difficult to extinguish.