Transcript Learning
Learning
Operant Conditioning
Objectives
• To define the term operant conditioning and the four
basic procedure used in this learning
• To explore the role of operant conditioning in daily life
• To apply the principles of operant conditioning
• Operant conditioning is a type of
learning where behavior is controlled by
consequences.
•
• Positive Reinforcement
• Positive reinforcement is giving something
pleasant after a behavior. This increases the
probability that the behavior will continue
• Examples are:
• Having a job and going to work every day to
receive a paycheck.
• Receiving praise after a musical performance
would increase the amount that you perform.
• Negative Reinforcement
• Negative reinforcement is taking away something
unpleasant as a result of the behavior that is acceptable.
This is also meant to increase the behavior. Examples
are:
• It is very noisy outside so you turn on the television to
mask the noise. Turning on the radio decreased the
unpleasant noise.
• A teacher exempts student from the final test if they have
perfect attendance. So, the teacher is taking away
something unpleasant to increase behavior.
• Positive Punishment
• Positive punishment is used to decrease a behavior and
is presenting something unpleasant after the behavior.
Examples are:
• An employee exhibits bad behavior at work and the boss
criticizes him. The behavior will decrease because of the
boss’s criticism.
• When a student misbehaves in class, she receives a
time out.
• Negative Punishment
• Negative punishment is also used to decrease a behavior and is
removing something pleasant after the behavior. Examples are:
• An employee is habitually late for work so begins losing the privilege
of listening to music while working. The behavior will decrease
because of losing a privilege.
• A child doesn’t put his bike away so the parents lock it up for a
certain time. The parents took away something pleasant to decrease
behavior.
B.F. Skinner
1904-1990
Harvard psychologist
Added to behaviorism
Introduced concept of
reinforcement
Studied lab animals
Taught animals based
on reward
People learn same
way
Operant Chamber Box
The Skinner Box?