Section 2 Operant Conditioning

8. Explain how Operant Conditioning works and is

different than OC.

Operant Conditioning:◦ Type of associative learning in which behavior is

strengthened if followed by a reinforcer or diminished if followed by a punisher.

In this type of learning, a person learns to associate their own actions with consequences.

Look at the dog video on blackboard to see how

easy operant conditioning works.

B.F. Skinner, an author, decided to enter grad school in psych.

He was intrigued with how animal’s and people’s behavior is shaped by what they get or lose from doing it.

Skinner devised a method to test if he could shape behaviors in rats and birds.

He came up with “Skinner Boxes” to test it out.

Pigeon vid

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Positive Reinforcement:◦ Add a desirable effect

Negative Reinforcement:◦ Remove an aversive stimulus

I pooed outside.

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Positive Punishment:◦ Administer an aversive stimulus

Negative Punishment:◦ Withdraw a desirable stimulus

Positive Prefix

Adding something in response to a behavior.

Adding something: good = reinforcementbad = punishment

Negative Prefix

Taking away something in response to a behavior.

Taking something: good = punishmentbad = reinforcement

No more for you till you behave yourself.

Psychologists have found that constant positive reinforcement, or continuous reinforcement, is not the answer.

It is much better to create a reinforcement schedule since life rarely continuously reinforces us.

Use punishments carefully.

Constant, especially physical punishments, can suppress instead of decrease behaviors and cause fearfulness in children.