What Is Learned In Operant Conditioning? In operant conditioning, the learner forms a link between a particular behavior and the consequences that follow the behavior. Pleasant consequences are reinforcers; they strengthen the behavior and make it more likely to occur in the future. Unpleasant consequences are punishers; they reduce the likelihood that the behavior will be repeated.
Here are the four types of consequences. On the following screens you will see how each type of consequence influences the behavior of a rat in an operant conditioning chamber.
positive reinforcement: When the target behavior occurs, a pleasant event begins. Example: After a child does his chores, his mother gives him some ice cream. This makes it more likely that he will do his chores in the future.
negative reinforcement: When the target behavior occurs, an unpleasant event ends. Example: A terrible sound stops after a person presses a button. This makes it more likely that the person will press the button the next time that sound begins.
positive punishment: When the target behavior occurs, an unpleasant event begins. Example: A driver exceeds the speed limit and a police officer gives the driver a ticket. This makes it less likely that the driver will speed again.
negative punishment: When the behavior occurs, a pleasant event ends. Example: When a child starts whining, the parents turn off the television show the child was enjoying. This makes it less likely that the child will whine in the future.
Positive Reinforcement. Here is a rat in an operant conditioning chamber. The rat is hungry and is exploring the environment, looking for food. As the rat explores the bar (lever) mounted on the wall, by chance the rat presses the bar. The bar-pressing behavior is followed by a pleasant consequence: the food dispenser opens and food is available for 10 seconds. What will happen to the frequency of the rat's bar-pressing behavior? The behavior will become more frequent. The appearance of the food is positive reinforcement for the bar press.
Negative Reinforcement. An electric current has been connected to the metal floor of the chamber, giving the rat a painful shock. As the rat jumps around in panic, looking for a way to escape the shock, by chance the rat presses the bar. The bar-pressing behavior is followed by a pleasant consequence: the shock stops for 10 seconds. The bar-pressing behavior is followed by a pleasant consequence: the shock stops for 10 seconds. What will happen to the frequency of the rat's bar-pressing behavior? The behavior will become more frequent. The end of the shock is negative reinforcement for the bar press.
Positive Punishment. Here is a rat in an operant conditioning chamber. The rat is hungry and is exploring the environment, looking for food. As the rat explores the bar (lever) mounted on the wall, by chance the rat presses the bar. The bar-pressing behavior is followed by an unpleasant consequence: the floor of the chamber is connected to an electric current for 10 seconds, giving the rat a painful shock. What will happen to the frequency of the rat's bar-pressing behavior? The behavior will become less frequent. The onset of the shock is positive punishment for the bar press.
Negative punishement. The rat has eaten some of the food from the food dispenser, but is still exploring the environment. As the rat explores the bar (lever) mounted on the wall, by chance the rat presses the bar. The bar-pressing behavior is followed by an unpleasant consequence: the food dispenser closes and the food is gone for 10 seconds. What will happen to the frequency of the rat's bar-pressing behavior? The behavior will become less frequent. The disappearance of the food is negative punishement for the bar press.
Operant conditioning focuses on the consequences that follow a behavior, because those consequences determine whether that behavior becomes more frequent or less frequent. A favorable or pleasant consequence is called a reinforcer, because it tends to reinforce or strengthen the behavior it follows. Reinforcers raise the probability that the behavior will occur again. On the other hand, an unfavorable or unpleasant consequence is called a punisher. Punishers weaken the behavior they follow and decrease the likelihood that the behavior will be repeated. In operant conditioning, "positive" refers to a consequence that begins something new, while "negative" refers to a consequence that ends something that is already happening. So beginning a pleasant event is positive reinforcement, and beginning an unpleasant event is positive punishment. Ending an unpleasant event is negative reinforcement, and ending a pleasant event is negative punishment.
QUESTION: What term corresponds to weakening a behavior or making it less frequent, and also ends something?
QUESTION: What term corresponds to weakening a behavior or making it less frequent, and also begins something?
QUESTION: What term corresponds to strengthening a behavior or making it more frequent, and also ends something?
QUESTION: What term corresponds to strengthening a behavior or making it more frequent, and also begins something?
Choose the term appropriate to the scenario.
QUESTION: Brianna's parents constantly nag her about cleaning her room. When she finally cleans her room, her parents stop nagging.
Choose the term appropriate to the scenario.
QUESTION: Whenever Bethany calls her brother a bad name, he pinches her arm.
Choose the term appropriate to the scenario.
QUESTION: Bill's father praises him every time he practices the piano.
Choose the term appropriate to the scenario.
QUESTION: Ben didn't get his homework done on time, so his parents took away his favorite video game.