5.4 Operant Conditioning
Notes
Associated with Edward Thorndike (law of effect: behaviors followed by good outcomes are repeated) and B. F. Skinner. Behavior is shaped by its consequences.
| Add a stimulus | Remove a stimulus | |
|---|---|---|
| Increases behavior | Positive reinforcement | Negative reinforcement |
| Decreases behavior | Positive punishment | Negative punishment |
- "Positive" means adding; "negative" means taking away. Reinforcement increases behavior; punishment decreases it.
- Examples: praise after studying (positive reinforcement); taking an aspirin to stop a headache, so you take it again (negative reinforcement); a lost phone privilege for lying (negative punishment); extra chores for lying (positive punishment).
- Shaping: reinforcing small steps toward a goal behavior.
- Primary reinforcers meet biological needs (food); secondary reinforcers are learned (money, praise).
Practice
Maria studies more after earning praise from her teacher. This is:
A stimulus (praise) is added and the behavior increases.
Leo's parents take away his video games for a week after he skips homework. This is:
Something pleasant is removed, decreasing the behavior.
A student puts on headphones to block a noisy room, and the relief makes her likely to wear them again. This is:
Removing an unpleasant stimulus (noise) increases the behavior.
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