Operant conditioning

Operant conditioning, also known as instrumental conditioning, is a type of learning in which an individual's behavior is modified by its consequences; the behaviour may change in form, frequency, or strength. Operant conditioning is distinguished from classical conditioning (also known as Pavlovian or respondent conditioning) in that operant conditioning deals with the modification of "voluntary behaviour" or operant behaviour.

History

The term 'operant conditioning' was introduced by B.F. Skinner in order to indicate that, in his experimental paradigm, the organism is free to operate on the environment. In this paradigm, the experimenter cannot trigger the desirable response; the experimenter waits for the response to occur (to be emitted by the organism) and then a potential reinforcer is delivered.

Concepts

Operant conditioning is a process that attempts to modify behaviour through the use of positive and negative reinforcement. Through operant conditioning, an individual makes an association between a particular behavior and a consequence.

Reinforcement

Reinforcement is any event that strengthens or increases the behavior it follows. There are two types of reinforcement: positive and negative.

Positive reinforcement

Positive reinforcement is a process that strengthens the likelihood of a particular response by adding a stimulus after the behavior is performed.

Negative reinforcement

Negative reinforcement is a response or behavior is strengthened by stopping, removing, or avoiding a negative outcome or aversive stimulus.

Punishment

Punishment is the application of an aversive stimulus/event (positive punishment or punishment by contingent stimulation) or the removal of a desirable stimulus (negative punishment or punishment by contingent withdrawal).

Applications

Operant conditioning has been widely applied in clinical settings (i.e., behavior modification) as well as teaching settings and instructional design.

See also

• Behaviorism
• Classical conditioning
• Reinforcement
• Punishment

External links

• B.F. Skinner Foundation
• Cambridge Center for Behavioral Studies

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  Edward Lee Thorndike

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  B.F. Skinner at Harvard circa 1950