An introductory text reads, “Operant conditioning is a type of learning in which we associate our voluntary actions with the consequences of those actions. For example, a pigeon naturally pecks things. But if every time the pigeon pecks a ball, it is given a reinforcer, the pigeon will soon learn to peck the ball more frequently. B F Skinner showed that operant conditioning could do more than elicit simple, isolated actions. He taught pigeons to “bowl” and play “tennis” with the help of shaping; that is, he observed their behaviors and provided reinforcers when they performed at a required level. Today, shaping is used routinely by parents, teachers, coaches, and employers to train all kinds of complex behaviors. The first panel shows Skinner’s experiment: TRAIN A PIGEON TO PLAY TENNIS has four sections.
Section 1: Pigeon is rewarded with seeds for pecking the ball. The section shows the following activities: pigeon sitting on a tree branch; pigeon pecking over the grass; an idle pigeon; and the pigeon pecking a ball. An arrow pointing to the pigeon pecking a ball reads, reinforcement with seeds.
Section 2: Ball-pecking behavior increases. The section shows different ball pecking positions of the pigeon as follows: a pigeon pecking ball to the left; a pigeon pecking ball to the right; an idle pigeon; and the pigeon pecking a ball to the left. All of these activities represent reinforcement.
Section 3: Now only the next step toward “tennis” is rewarded. The section shows three different pecking positions of the pigeon as follows: first two positions show the pigeon pecking the ball to the left and the third position shows the pigeon pushing the ball. An arrow pointing to the position in which the pigeon pushes the ball reads, reinforcement with seeds.
Section 4: Ball-pushing behavior increases. Three illustrations show that the pigeon pushes the ball to a greater degree; all three actions representing reinforcement.
A black and white photo shows 2 pigeons playing tennis from either side of a box. An accompanying text reads, “After behavior has been shaped through reinforcement, the pigeon has learned to play tennis.”
The second panel shows an experiment with a kid. A question reads, Have you been Trained? An introductory text reads, Not every child is born loving the healthy foods his parent offers. But shaping can help a child learn to eat his vegetables. Over a period of time, reinforcement is given for behaviors that are closer and closer to this goal. Can you think of anything that would be a reward for eating vegetables? Praise or the excitement of a contest may work in this way. Four steps are shown as follows, step 1: a photo shows a child looking at a plate of vegetables. Text reads: child refuses to eat vegetables; step 2: child picks up the fork. Text reads: reinforced for touching fork and a call out reads: yes! Step 3: child tries to pick the vegetables using the fork. Text reads: now, reinforced for touching vegetables and a call out reads: good job; and step 4: child eats the vegetable. Text reads: After behavior has been shaped through reinforcement, the child has learned to eat his vegetables.