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    Operant Conditioning

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    Sara Zohreen

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    © All Rights Reserved
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    Operant Conditioning

    Uploaded by

    Sara Zohreen
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    Operant conditioning

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    3 views2 pages

    Operant Conditioning

    Uploaded by

    Sara Zohreen

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    © All Rights Reserved
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    Operant conditioning: Skinner (1938)

    A form of learning in which behaviour is shaped and maintained by the consequences


    (reinforcement or punishment). If a behaviour is followed by a desirable consequence than that
    behaviour is more likely to occur again in the future.

    Types of reinforcement

    Reinforcement is anything that strengthens a response. Both types of reinforcement increase the
    likelihood that the behaviour will be repeated.

    1. Positive reinforcement occurs when behaviour produces a consequence that is pleasant.


    2. Negative reinforcement occurs when a human avoids something unpleasant
    e.g switching an alarm off to avoid hearing the noise.

    Schedules of reinforcement- although a continuous reinforcement schedule is most effective in


    establishing a response, a partial reinforcement schedule is more effective in maintaining the
    response and avoiding extinction.

    Punishment-refers to the circumstance whereby a behaviour is followed by a consequence that


    is unpleasant. It decreases the likelihood of the behaviour recurring.

    The skinner box investigated operant conditioning in rats. When the rat accidentally pressed the
    lever a food pellet fell into the cage. If the food pellets stop the rat presses that lever a few more
    times than abandons it (extinction).

    Evaluation:

    Strengths of classical conditioning explanations has led to the development of treatments for the
    reduction of anxiety associated with phobias e.g. systematic desensitization. This works by
    eliminating the learned anxious response and replacing it with another of relaxation. It has
    worked for arachnophobia.
    Limitations of classical conditioning explanations relationships between the CS and UCS tend
    to be more difficult to establish for some species than for others. Seligman (1970) suggested that
    animals are prepared to learn associations that are significant for survival rather than those that
    are not significant to survival.

    Strengths of operant conditioning explanations- Skinner’s research was done through


    experimental methods with controlled conditions. By manipulating the IV we(consequences of
    behaviour) he was able to accurately measure the effects on the DV(rat’s behaviour).

    Limitations of operant conditioning explanations- Skinner’s research involved the study of


    animals rather than humans meaning that the results tell us little about human behaviour. Critics
    reject Skinner’s disregard for free will.

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