Operant conditioning
Operant Conditioning
Operant conditioning (pronounced: /ˈɒpərənt ˌkɒndɪˈʃənɪŋ/), also known as instrumental conditioning, is a type of learning in which an individual's behavior is modified by its consequences. The term was coined by B.F. Skinner, a 20th-century psychologist who conducted extensive research on this form of learning.
Etymology
The term "operant" refers to how an organism operates on the environment, and "conditioning" refers to the learning from the environment. The term was first used by B.F. Skinner in 1937.
Definition
Operant conditioning is a method of learning that employs rewards and punishments for behavior. Through operant conditioning, an association is made between a behavior and a consequence for that behavior.
Process
The process of operant conditioning involves three main components: the stimulus, the response, and the reinforcement. The stimulus is the event or situation that triggers the response. The response is the behavior that is triggered by the stimulus. The reinforcement is the consequence of the response, which can be either positive (rewarding) or negative (punishing).
Types
There are four types of operant conditioning: positive reinforcement, negative reinforcement, positive punishment, and negative punishment.
- Positive reinforcement occurs when a behavior is followed by a reward, which increases the likelihood of the behavior being repeated.
- Negative reinforcement occurs when a behavior is followed by the removal of an unpleasant stimulus, which also increases the likelihood of the behavior being repeated.
- Positive punishment occurs when a behavior is followed by an unpleasant stimulus, which decreases the likelihood of the behavior being repeated.
- Negative punishment occurs when a behavior is followed by the removal of a pleasant stimulus, which decreases the likelihood of the behavior being repeated.
Related Terms
- Reinforcement: A consequence that increases the likelihood of a behavior.
- Punishment: A consequence that decreases the likelihood of a behavior.
- Extinction: The process by which a conditioned response is weakened by absence or removal of reinforcement.
- Discrimination: The ability to differentiate between a conditioned stimulus and other, non-conditioned stimuli.
- Generalization: The tendency to respond in the same way to different but similar stimuli.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Operant conditioning
- Wikipedia's article - Operant conditioning
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