1. Operant Conditioning
Spencer Patrell

2. History
B.F. Skinner is regarded as the father of operant conditioning.
Operant conditioning was the result of Skinner seeking a form of learning other than the classical conditioning that had already been studied earlier in the 20th century.
Skinner was dedicated to studying operant conditioning as it was readily observable behavior as opposed to internal mental processes.
Based on Thorndike’s Law of Effect.
(McLeod, 2015)

3. The Basics
Asserts that actions followed by reinforcement will be strengthened and will happen more frequently while those punished will occur less frequently.
Two types of behavior:
Respondent – Automatic
Example: Pulling hand away from a hot stove
Operant – Learned
Rats pulling a lever to get food
(Cherry, 2015)

4. Components
Reinforcement – Any event that strengthens the behavior it follows.
Positive – Presentation of a favorable stimulus.
Negative – Removal of a stimulus that is unfavorable.
Punishment – Adverse event that decreases behavior it follows.
Positive – Presentation of unfavorable stimulus.
Negative – Removing a positive stimulus.
(Cherry, 2015)

5. Examples Positive Reinforcement: Negative Reinforcement:
Praising kids for getting good grades
Negative Reinforcement:
Doing a chore in order to keep your mom quiet
Positive Punishment:
Receiving a ticket for going over the speed limit
Negative Punishment:
Being grounded after coming home late at night.