Operant Conditioning: What Is It and How Works

# Operant Conditioning

Operant conditioning is a form of learning that uses consequences to change behavior. It is based on the principle that behavior that is reinforced is more likely to be repeated, while behavior that is punished is less likely to be repeated.

How Operant Conditioning Works

B. F. Skinner an American Psychologist was a behavioral psychologist believed that all behaviors are learned, and he developed a theory of learning called operant conditioning to explain how this occurs.

Operant conditioning involves three key components:

1. The antecedent: This is the stimulus or event that triggers a behavior.

2. The behavior: This is the response to the antecedent.

3. The consequence: This is the event that follows the behavior.

The consequence can be positive, such as praise, or negative, such as punishment.

Types of Consequences

There are two types of consequences in operant conditioning: reinforcement and punishment.

1. Reinforcement: Reinforcement refers to the process of presenting a positive consequence after a behavior to increase the probability that the behavior will be repeated.

2. Punishment: Punishment refers to the process of presenting a negative consequence after a behavior to decrease the probability that the behavior will be repeated.

- Positive reinforcement: This is when a pleasant or desired stimulus follows desired behaviors. For example, if a child is given a candy after they clean their room, they are more likely to clean their room in the future in order to get another candy.

- Negative reinforcement: This is when an unpleasant or undesired stimulus is removed after desired behaviors. For example, if a child is allowed to stop cleaning their room after they have completed a certain amount of work, they are more likely to continue cleaning their room in the future in order to avoid having to clean more.

- Positive punishment: This is when an unpleasant or undesired stimulus is added after undesired behaviors .For example, if a child is spanked after hitting another child, they are less likely to hit someone in the future in order to avoid being spanked again.

- Negative punishment:This is when a pleasant or desired stimulus is removed after undesired behaviors. For example, if a child is not allowed to watch their favorite television show after they have not done their homework, they are less likely to not do their homework in the future in order to be able to watch their desired show.

Schedules of Reinforcement

The frequency and timing of reinforcement can also affect the effectiveness of operant conditioning. There are different schedules of reinforcement, including:

1. Continuous reinforcement: This is when reinforcement is given every time the desired behavior occurs.

2. Intermittent reinforcement: This is when reinforcement is only given some of the time the desired behavior occurs.

Intermittent reinforcement can be more effective in maintaining behavior over the long term, as it can help to prevent extinction, which is when a behavior stops occurring because it is no longer being reinforced.

Applications of Operant Conditioning

Operant conditioning has been used to change a wide range of behaviors, both positive and negative. It is commonly used in:

1. Education

2. Behavior modification

3. Animal training

4. Parenting

5. Organizational management

Conclusion

Operant conditioning is a powerful tool for changing behavior. By understanding the basic principles of operant conditioning, you can use it to improve your work performance, your relationships and your life.