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Operant Script

This document discusses the key concepts of operant conditioning including reinforcement and punishment. It explains that operant conditioning is learning through consequences, as described by B.F. Skinner. Reinforcement increases desired behaviors by adding positive reinforcement like rewards or removing negative reinforcement like nagging. Punishment decreases undesired behaviors by adding positive punishment like losing privileges or removing negative punishment like taking away benefits.

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chu chu
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Download as TXT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
159 views

Operant Script

This document discusses the key concepts of operant conditioning including reinforcement and punishment. It explains that operant conditioning is learning through consequences, as described by B.F. Skinner. Reinforcement increases desired behaviors by adding positive reinforcement like rewards or removing negative reinforcement like nagging. Punishment decreases undesired behaviors by adding positive punishment like losing privileges or removing negative punishment like taking away benefits.

Uploaded by

chu chu
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as TXT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Hi.

It’s Dr Z.
I will be discussing the two key concepts of operant conditioning.
By the end of this video, you will be able to describe reinforcement and punishment
in
the context of operant conditioning.

As discussed in your textbook, B. F. Skinner expanded on the work of Edward


Thorndike and
developed operant conditioning. In its most simplest form, operant conditioning is
learning
by consequences. Skinner used his operant chamber, also known as as a Skinner box,
to
experiment with rats and pigeons.
Like I said, it is learning by consequence. B. F. Skinner described one’s voluntary
behavior as an “operant.” When we engage in this voluntary behavior, it accidently
leads to some sort of consequence. This consequence can either reinforce behavior
or punish behavior.
Reinforcement increases the desired behavior. While, punishment decreases desired
behavior.
Skinner also realized that behavior can be affected by adding something or taking
something
away. So, from purely a mathematically point of view, “positive” refers to the
“positive
sign” in math, which means to add something. Likewise, “negative” refers to taking
something away. So, most students confuse this important concept and mistakenly
think
of “positive” as “good” and “negative” as “bad.” This is not the case!

So, let’s get to reinforcement. The root word of reinforcement is “reinforce,”


which means to strengthen or increase. Thus, reinforcement increases the chances
that a
behavior will be repeated. It is also important to note that reinforcement occurs
AFTER a
behavior. So, imagine this scenario, a messy room. Your parents want you to clean
your
room. There are two ways that your parents can use reinforcement to increase your
behavior
of cleaning your room.
First one is positive reinforcement. Let’s break it down into its parts first.
Reinforcement
means to increase behavior. And positive means to add something. In other words, we
will
be adding a pleasant consequence or adding something valued or desirable to
increase
your behavior.

Now, let’s think for a minute: what can you parents give you that is nice,
pleasant, that can increase your likelihood of cleaning your room. The easiest
response
is some sort of reward, like money, maybe time with friends, a new video game, even
receiving praise, like “good job,” are all considered rewards.
On the other hand, your parents could try negative reinforcement. Let’s break it
down
into its parts first. Reinforcement means to increase behavior. And negative means
to
take something away. In other words, we are going to take away an unpleasant
consequence.
I bet it is annoying or unpleasant to keep hearing your mom and dad get on your
case
and nag you to clean your room, right? Well, the nagging is an unpleasant
consequence. So, when you clean your room, your mom/dad stop nagging you, so you
just
took away the unpleasant consequence of nagging. And you are happy.

Now, let’s go to punishment. The main purpose of punishment is to “weaken” your


response
or decrease your behavior. So, let’s imagine this scenario that you keep arriving
late
to your job. What is your boss or manager to do? You have two options in
punishment.
Positive punishment might be an option. Let’s break it down into its parts.
Punishment means
to decrease behavior and positive means to add something. In the case of positive
punishment,
we are adding an unpleasant consequence to decrease your behavior. Your textbook
refers
to this as “punishment by application.” The most obvious unpleasant consequence
would
be to lose your job. But, other unpleasant consequences would be for your boss to
assign
you to work maybe a lousy shift or work with some unpleasant co-workers to decrease
your behavior
of arriving late to work.
Lastly, we have negative punishment. Recall that punishment is to decrease behavior
and
negative means to take something away. In the case of negative punishment, we are
taking
away or removing a pleasant consequence or removing something that is valued or
desirable.
Your textbook refers to this as “punishment by removal”. Employee discounts are
often
pleasant consequences or perks of any job. So, with negative punishment, your boss
can
decide to temporarily suspend or completely take away your employee discount to
decrease
your behavior of arriving late to work.

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