Operant conditioning is a type of learning in which a particular action is elicited because it produces a reward or punishment. Unlike classical conditioning, this process usually involves voluntary behaviors.
Response Type
Voluntary (goal-directed) actions that are shaped by consequences.
Reinforcement
Reinforcement increases the likelihood of a behavior being repeated.
- Positive Reinforcement: Adding a rewarding stimulus to increase behavior (e.g., giving candy for good grades).
- Negative Reinforcement: Removing an aversive stimulus to increase behavior (e.g., turning off a loud alarm by pressing a button).
Punishment
Punishment decreases the likelihood of a behavior being repeated.
- Positive Punishment: Adding an aversive stimulus to reduce behavior (e.g., spanking a child for misbehavior).
- Negative Punishment: Removing a desired stimulus to reduce behavior (e.g., taking away a toy for bad behavior).
Extinction
If reinforcement (positive or negative) is discontinued, the conditioned behavior gradually disappears. Extinction can occur in both operant and classical conditioning.
Skinner’s Operant Conditioning Quadrants
| Increase Behavior | Decrease Behavior | |
|---|---|---|
| Add stimulus | Positive reinforcement | Positive punishment |
| Remove stimulus | Negative reinforcement | Negative punishment |
Classic Example
B.F. Skinner’s experiments with animals showed that pressing a lever could be increased with rewards (food pellets) or decreased with punishments (electric shocks), demonstrating the shaping of voluntary behavior through reinforcement and punishment.
Learning Objective
Understand operant conditioning as a type of associative learning in which voluntary behaviors are shaped by reinforcement (to increase behavior) or punishment (to decrease behavior), and recognize the four quadrants of Skinner’s operant model.
