Operant Conditioning

Instrumental Learning

Operant Conditioning

  • Skinner further examined operant conditioning which involves voluntary responses controlled by consequences.

  • Operant behaviors are emitted, not elicited.

  • Skinner used operant chambers (Skinner boxes) to study response rates, graphically recorded with cumulative recorders.

  • Dependent variable: response rate over time.

  • Steep curve: rapid response rate; Flat curve: no response.

Reinforcement

  • Reinforcement: Stimulus after behavior that increases likelihood of that behavior in the future.

  • If consequences are favorable, behavior is reinforced.
    Types of Reinforcement

  • Positive reinforcement: Add pleasant stimulus after behavior.

  • Negative reinforcement: Remove aversive stimulus after behavior.

Types of Reinforcers

  • Primary reinforcers: Innate reinforcing qualities (e.g., food, water).

  • Secondary reinforcers: Acquire reinforcing qualities by link to primary reinforcers (e.g., praise, money).

Punishment

  • Punishment: Makes behavior less likely to occur.
    Types of Punishment

  • Positive punishment: Add aversive stimulus after behavior (e.g., speeding fine).

  • Negative punishment: Remove pleasant stimulus after behavior (e.g., removing television time).

Problems with Punishment

  • Learner may not understand which behavior is punished.

  • Learner may fear the punisher.

  • Punishment may not undo existing rewards.

  • Punishment can lead to aggression.

Effective strategies

  • Reinforce desirable behaviors, rather than punishing undesirable behaviors.

  • Apply punishment swiftly and consistently.

  • Ensure punishment severity is sufficient.

  • Minimize physical forms of punishment.