operant conditioning

What is operant conditioning?

Operant conditioning, proposed by B.F. Skinner, is a type of learning in which behavior is strengthened if followed by a reinforcer or diminished if followed by a punisher.

Who is associated with operant conditioning?

B.F. Skinner, an American psychologist.

What is reinforcement in operant conditioning?

Reinforcement is anything that strengthens a behavior, making it more likely to occur again.

Differentiate between positive and negative reinforcement.

1. Positive Reinforcement: Adding a desirable stimulus to increase a behavior (e.g., giving praise for good work).
2. Negative Reinforcement: Removing an aversive stimulus to increase a behavior (e.g., stopping an annoying alarm when you fasten your seatbelt).

What is punishment in operant conditioning?

Punishment is anything that weakens a behavior, making it less likely to occur again.

Differentiate between positive and negative punishment.

1. Positive Punishment: Adding an aversive stimulus to decrease a behavior (e.g., shouting at a child for misbehaving).
2. Negative Punishment: Removing a desirable stimulus to decrease a behavior (e.g., taking away a child's toy for misbehaving).

What is the 'Skinner Box'?

The 'Skinner Box' (or operant conditioning chamber) is a controlled environment used by B.F. Skinner to study operant conditioning. It typically contains a lever or key that an animal can press or peck to obtain food or water, or avoid an unpleasant stimulus.

What are the main assumptions of the behaviourist approach (AQA A-level psychology)?

1. All behaviour is learned: Behaviourists believe we are born as a 'blank slate' (tabula rasa) and all behaviour is acquired through experience.
2. Focus on observable behaviour: Only behaviour that can be objectively observed and measured is considered scientific and worthy of study; internal mental processes are ignored.
3. Use of laboratory experiments: Behaviourism emphasizes the use of highly controlled lab experiments to establish cause-and-effect relationships between stimuli and responses.
4. Reliance on animal studies: Since behaviourists believe fundamental learning processes are the same across species, they extensively use animals to research learning, extrapolating findings to humans.
5. Environmental determinism: Behaviour is determined by environmental factors and experiences, rather than free will