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Related Concept Videos

Naturalistic Observations02:30

Naturalistic Observations

If you want to understand how behavior occurs, one of the best ways to gain information is to simply observe the behavior in its natural context. However, people might change their behavior in unexpected ways if they know they are being observed. How do researchers obtain accurate information when people tend to hide their natural behavior? As an example, imagine that your professor asks everyone in your class to raise their hand if they always wash their hands after using the restroom. Chances...
Behaviorism01:28

Behaviorism

The field of behaviorism was pioneered by figures such as Ivan Pavlov, John B. Watson, and B.F. Skinner fundamentally shifted the focus of psychology to the observable and controllable aspects of human and animal behavior. This shift marked a critical evolution in the discipline, emphasizing scientific rigor and experimental methodology.
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Associative Learning01:27

Associative Learning

Associative learning is a fundamental concept in behavioral psychology, wherein a connection is established between two stimuli or events, leading to a learned response. This process is critical in understanding how behaviors are acquired and modified. Conditioning, the mechanism through which associations are formed, can be divided into two main types: classical conditioning and operant conditioning, each elucidating different aspects of associative learning.
Classical conditioning, also known...
Operant Conditioning01:21

Operant Conditioning

Operant conditioning, a key concept in behavioral psychology, involves using reinforcement and punishment to alter the likelihood of a behavior being repeated. B.F. introduced this type of conditioning. Skinner focused on voluntary behaviors and the consequences that follow them, influencing whether these behaviors will be strengthened or diminished.
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Law of Effect01:06

Law of Effect

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Generalization, Discrimination, and Extinction01:24

Generalization, Discrimination, and Extinction

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 29, 2026

A Procedure to Observe Context-induced Renewal of Pavlovian-conditioned Alcohol-seeking Behavior in Rats
13:24

A Procedure to Observe Context-induced Renewal of Pavlovian-conditioned Alcohol-seeking Behavior in Rats

Published on: September 19, 2014

Context, observing behavior, and conditioned reinforcement.

R J Auge

    Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior
    |November 1, 1974
    PubMed
    Summary
    This summary is machine-generated.

    Pigeons learned to observe stimuli signaling different reinforcement schedules. Observing behavior depended on the context, showing conditioned reinforcement is context-dependent.

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    Area of Science:

    • Behavioral psychology
    • Animal cognition

    Background:

    • Conditioned reinforcement is crucial for understanding learning.
    • Stimuli associated with rewards can themselves become reinforcing.
    • The context in which stimuli are presented can influence their reinforcing properties.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To investigate how the context of reinforcement schedules affects observing responses in pigeons.
    • To determine if the reinforcing value of stimuli signaling different schedules is dependent on the paired schedule.

    Main Methods:

    • Pigeons were trained on concurrent fixed-interval (FI) and fixed-ratio (FR) schedules.
    • Stimuli signaled either the FI or FR schedule, which alternated after reinforcement.
    • Observing responses were measured to stimuli signaling each schedule under different paired conditions.

    Main Results:

    • When FI was paired with low-value FR (20, 30), the FR stimulus reinforced observing, but the FI stimulus did not.
    • When FI was paired with high-value FR (100, 140, 200), the FI stimulus reinforced observing, but the FR stimulus did not.
    • The effectiveness of a stimulus in maintaining observing behavior was reversed by changing the paired schedule context.

    Conclusions:

    • The reinforcing effectiveness of a stimulus is not absolute but depends on the surrounding schedule context.
    • Conditioned reinforcement is established and measured within a specific environmental or contextual framework.
    • These findings highlight the importance of contextual factors in the psychology of learning and behavior.