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Operant Conditioning

Operant conditioning is a process that attempts to modify behavior through positive and negative reinforcement or punishment. Reinforcement strengthens a desired behavior, while punishment weakens an undesired behavior. B.F. Skinner originated the concept of operant conditioning, which focuses on external causes of behavior rather than internal thoughts. Different reinforcement schedules, like continuous or partial reinforcement, impact how quickly or resistant to change a behavior becomes.

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20 views2 pages

Operant Conditioning

Operant conditioning is a process that attempts to modify behavior through positive and negative reinforcement or punishment. Reinforcement strengthens a desired behavior, while punishment weakens an undesired behavior. B.F. Skinner originated the concept of operant conditioning, which focuses on external causes of behavior rather than internal thoughts. Different reinforcement schedules, like continuous or partial reinforcement, impact how quickly or resistant to change a behavior becomes.

Uploaded by

Hsu Sandi Aung
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Burrhus Frederick Skinner

Operant Conditioning
KEY CONCEPTS
What is the difference between operant conditioning and classical conditioning?
In operant conditioning, a voluntary response is then followed by a reinforcing stimulus. In this way,
the voluntary response (e.g. studying for an exam) is more likely to be done by the individual.
In contrast, classical conditioning is when a stimulus automatically triggers an involuntary response.
OPERANT CONDITIONING
 Operant conditioning can be described as a process that attempts to modify behavior through the use of
positive and negative reinforcement.
 Through operant conditioning, an individual makes an association between a particular behavior and a
consequence.
 The term “operant conditioning” originated by the behaviorist B. F. Skinner, who believed that one
should focus on the external, observable causes of behavior (rather than try to unpack the internal
thoughts and motivations)

REINFORCEMENT
Reinforcement is anything that strengthen the desired response.

POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE REINFORCEMENTS


 Positive Reinforcement are favorable events or outcomes that are given to the individual after the
desired behavior. This may come in the form of praise, rewards, etc.
 Negative Reinforcement typically are characterized by the removal of an undesired or unpleasant
outcome after the desired behavior. A response is strengthened as something considered negative is
removed.
The goal in both of these cases of reinforcement is for the behavior to increase.

PUNISHMENT
Punishment is when the increase of something undesirable attempts to cause a decrease in the behavior
that follows.

POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE PUNISHMENT


 Positive punishment is when unfavorable events or outcomes are given in order to weaken the response
that follows.
 Negative punishment is characterized by when a favorable event or outcome is removed after an
undesired behavior occurs.
The goal in both of these cases of punishment is for a behavior to decrease.
Shaping of Behavior
The process of guiding an organism’s behavior to the desired outcome through the use of successive
approximation to a final desired behavior.
Chains of behaviors
That is reinforced when they are a series of steps are needed to be learnt.

Reinforcement schedule
Continuous reinforcement schedule
The desired response is reinforced every time it occurs. The problem is that because the organism is
used to receiving the reinforcement after every behavior, the responder may give up quickly when it doesn’t
appear.
Partial reinforcement schedule
The responses are sometimes reinforced, and sometimes not. In comparison to continuous
reinforcement, partial reinforcement schedules lead to slower initial learning, but they also lead to greater
resistance to extinction.
Fixed-interval schedule
Behavior is reinforced for the first response after a specific amount of time has passed.
Variable-interval schedule
Behavior is reinforced for the first response after an average, but unpredictable, amount of time has
passed.
Fixed-ratio schedule
Behavior is reinforced after a specific number of responses.
Variable-ratio schedule
Behavior is reinforced after an average, but unpredictable, number of responses

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