The Theory of Operant Conditioning

Negative reinforcement is removing an unpleasant consequence when a behavior is exhibited in order to encourage said behavior. This was shown when

Behavior Modification, a psychological theory of human behavior. It evolved from the application of experimentally derived principles of learning to the modification of problem behaviors. The theory is based on a psychological model of human behavior that rejects the psychoanalytic or quasi-disease model of mental illness. Approaches to behavior modification assume that abnormal behavior is acquired and maintained in the same manner as normal behavior and can be changed directly through the application of social-learning principles. Assessment procedures focus on describing how an individual behaves, thinks, and feels in specific situations. Treatment methods are derived from the theories and findings of

Skinner’s theory explains how we acquire different learned behavior we exhibit daily. The work of psychologists Edward Thorndike greatly influences Skinner’s theory. Thorndike proposed what he called the law of effect. According to the principle, actions followed by desirable outcomes are likely to be repeated while those followed by undesirable outcomes are not likely to be repeated. During his boyhood,

Skinner’s theory observes individuals from the point of view of the behavior that they demonstrate. The key weakness of this theory is its attempt to explain the behaviors of an individual solely through visible phenomena. Critics sometimes accuse behaviorists of denying that ideas and thoughts exist (Jensen & Burgess, 1997). The major opposition that behaviorists face is that behavior of a person cannot be understood without including the mental activity of the individual. Critics have accused behaviorists of focusing only on behavior and ignoring the role of physiology, neuroscience, and genetics (Weiss & Rosales-Ruiz, 2014). Sometimes the reactions that people demonstrate have are not related their experience and therefore they have another

According to Akers and Sellers (2004), reinforcement of attitudes, beliefs and values occurs through both differential association and imitation can be either positive or negative. Positive reinforcement occurs when actions are rewarded through positive reactions to the behaviour as well as through positive consequences. Positive reinforcement can increase the probability of criminal behaviour through these rewards. Negative reinforcement, on the other hand involves the removal of negative outcomes or responses, and this may also increased probability of taking certain action.

It was believed by John Watson that classical conditioning could explain all aspects of human psychology (McLeod, 2008). Human behavior is caused by a stimulus which is then followed by a response; the main idea of classical conditioning. Before Skinner’s discoveries and analysis on operant conditioning, classical conditioning was the most reasonable method in explaining animal behavior. Breaking free from social norms Skinner approached behavior by looking at the causes of an action and how consequences are stronger than responses. Animal behavior could not be

Researchers thereafter developed interventions that were heavily influenced by the operant learning theory (Matson, Benavidez, Compton, Paclawskyj, & Baglio, 1996). Proponents suggest that the probability of a behaviour occurring in the future is dependent on its consequence (Bachman, 1972). As such, modifying such behaviour involves changing the consequence (i.e., reinforcement, punishment). Reinforcement is a consequence that follows a behaviour and increases the probability of said behaviour occurring in the future (Cooper, Heron, & Heward, 2014). Positive reinforcement involves presenting a desirable stimulus while negative reinforcement involves removing an aversive stimulus. For example, desirable behaviours are positively reinforced with tangibles or negatively reinforced by the termination of demands. Punishment on the other hand is a consequence that follows a behaviour and decreases the future probability of the behaviour occurring (Cooper et al., 2014). Positive punishment involves the presentation of an aversive stimulus while negative punishment is the removal of a desired stimulus. For example, reprimanding the client is a form of positive punishment while ignoring his/her is a form of negative punishment.

Nearly every experienced parent I know makes use of appropriate positive reinforcement and punishment to change their children’s behavior. My fiancée is quite fond of telling a story where she taught her young daughter to say please in a battle of wills over a sippy cup. She won that battle using operant conditioning. I have personally used operant conditioning on my nieces and nephews to teach them

And through this new friendship they might pick up new things or different ways to commit a crime, which is also known as the social learning theory. “Social learning theory is designed to explain how people learn criminal behavior using the psychological principles of operant conditioning” (Walsh, 2015, p. 130). As stated above, the new attachment that a criminal has with his new friends, who are also criminals, will learn new things from these friends. For instance, a burglar that has been sent to prison and after being released he joins a street gang. Upon entering the street gang, the burglar might learn different offenses and how to avoid to get caught by the police. If the criminals do not get caught by the police, then they are going to have better and strong connections with the street gang members (Anderson, 2016).

The principle of negative reinforcement can be seen clearly in daily life. An example is wearing a seatbelt in cars because, when the engine is on, there is a continuous beep which can only be eliminated by the driver using the seatbelt. In this instance, the removal of the beep negatively reinforces seatbelt-wearing behaviour.

Operant conditioning focuses on a system of reinforcement and punishers where actions will have a consequence (Skinner, 2016). In operant conditioning, behaviour that is reinforced will be strengthened while behaviour that is not reinforced will weaken with time (Skinner, 2016). There are three types of operants. The neutral operants that will neither increase nor decrease the chances of repeating a behaviour (Skinner, 2016). The reinforcers will increase the chances of repeating a behaviour (Skinner, 2016). The punishers will decrease the chances of repeating a behaviour (Skinner, 2016). Positive reinforcement strengthens a behaviour as an individual gains rewards through it (Skinner, 2016). Negative reinforcement strengthens the behaviour by removing an unpleasant consequence

Operant conditioning is the idea of behaviour influenced by rewards and consequences. This idea is founded by psychologist B.F. Skinner who based his idea off another psychologist, Edward Thorndike. There are a lot of things people do that are influenced by rewards by rewards and consequences. Almost everything we do on a daily basis is revolved around operant conditioning. For example, people go to work in order to have money to pay for a roof over their heads and have food to eat. Being able to eat and have a roof over someone’s head is both a reward and a consequence. It is a reward because if the person works, he will be rewarded with basic living needs. It is also a consequence because if the person does not work, he will not have money

Famous theorists in psychology have determined that an individual’s actions and their personality are affected by the people around them and the environment. Each and every scientist made their name by discovering each one. One of the scientists found that the personality of each individual learned at infant stage would reflect them in adulthood. This is by Harry Harlow and his monkey experiment. Their attitude and behavior grows into what they have experienced. Although Harlow has found this theory, Ivan Pavlov experimented with dogs and discovered classical conditioning. Classical conditioning can show how attitudes are formed and changed, how and when attitudes influence behavior, and how we change attitudes and behavior.

Operant conditioning is a type of learning which occurs through either receiving reinforcement or punishment for a behavior. This type of learning creates an association between a behavior and consequence for that behavior. The four types of operant conditioning are positive reinforcement, positive punishment, negative reinforcement, and negative punishment. If operant conditioning was used properly it could be used to solve a variety of social and resource dilemmas; especially in the case of the cattle ranchers and overgrazing.

     There are two forms of reinforcement: positive and negative reinforcement. When an event occurs producing a positive effect, it is considered positive reinforcement. Negative reinforcement involves the removal of a stimulus increasing the likelihood of a positive effect. An example of this would be to take two aspirins to remove the pain from a headache.