Operant Conditioning

Operant conditioning

a type of learning whereby the consequences of the behaviour determine the likelihood that it will be performed again in the future. - the learning of behaviour through its association with reward and punishment/learning explained by its consequence.

Involves voluntary/reflexive behaviours

voluntary

An operant

any response (or set of responses) that acts/operates on the environment to produce some kind of consequence.

Positive

adding something

Negative

removing something

Reinforcement

increases the likelihood that a specific behaviour will occur with greater frequency if the reinforcer is paired with it.

Positive reinforcement

favourable stimuli are presented after the behaviour. The response is strengthened by the addition of something considered pleasant.

Negative Reinforcement

removal of an unfavourable stimulus after the display of the behaviour. The response is strengthened by the removal of something considered unpleasant.

Punishment

decreases or eliminated the likelihood that a behaviour will occur when the punishment is paired with the behaviour.

Positive Punishment

presents an unfavourable stimulus in order to weaken the response it follows. The response is weakened by the addition of something considered unpleasant.

Negative punishment

a favourable stimulus is removed after a behaviour occurs. A response is weakened by the removal of something considered unpleasant.

Antecedent - 3 phase model

the environmental stimulus that precedes the relevant behaviour and therefore influences the occurrence of the behaviour and indicates the consequence.

Behaviour - 3 phase model

voluntary activity that occurs in the presence of the antecedent stimulus. Involves activity that has an effect on the environment in the form of a consequence that follows it.

Consequence - 3 phase model

the environmental event that occurs immediately after the behaviour and has an effect of the occurrence/recurrence of the behaviour.