Operant conditioning

Operant conditioning connects behavior with consequences. Positive means adding and negative means removing; neither word means good or bad here.

Lesson 2 of 33 parts Practice Flashcards

1/3

Positive reinforcement and Negative reinforcement

Objective: Explain positive reinforcement and negative reinforcement, distinguish their meanings, and apply them to a described case.

Positive reinforcement: Positive reinforcement adds a consequence that increases the relevant behavior. Negative reinforcement: Negative reinforcement removes an aversive condition and increases the relevant behavior. Learning changes behavior or knowledge through experience, with several mechanisms and limits. Classical conditioning concerns predictive associations, while operant procedures concern consequences of behavior. In operant terminology, positive and negative indicate adding and removing, not moral value. Consequences are classified by their observed effects on behavior. Observational learning can occur without immediate performance and depends on attention, memory, ability, and motivation. Application: Praise follows a behavior that subsequently becomes more frequent. This most directly illustrates positive reinforcement. An action stops an unpleasant sound and becomes more frequent. This most directly illustrates negative reinforcement.

Worked examples

Try itOriginal teaching scenario: Praise follows a behavior that subsequently becomes more frequent. Which idea from this section does it most directly illustrate?Show answer

Step 1 — Read the observation: Praise follows a behavior that subsequently becomes more frequent. Step 2 — Recall the relevant idea: Positive reinforcement adds a consequence that increases the relevant behavior. Step 3 — Connect the observation to the idea: The scenario is an illustration of positive reinforcement. Step 4 — Check the limit: This short scenario illustrates the concept; it does not establish every detail or exclude every other influence in a real situation.

Try itOriginal teaching scenario: An action stops an unpleasant sound and becomes more frequent. Which idea from this section does it most directly illustrate?Show answer

Step 1 — Read the observation: An action stops an unpleasant sound and becomes more frequent. Step 2 — Recall the relevant idea: Negative reinforcement removes an aversive condition and increases the relevant behavior. Step 3 — Connect the observation to the idea: The scenario is an illustration of negative reinforcement. Step 4 — Check the limit: This short scenario illustrates the concept; it does not establish every detail or exclude every other influence in a real situation.

Swipe sideways to move between sections

Positive reinforcement and Negative reinforcement

Objective: Explain positive reinforcement and negative reinforcement, distinguish their meanings, and apply them to a described case.

Worked examples

Try itOriginal teaching scenario: Praise follows a behavior that subsequently becomes more frequent. Which idea from this section does it most directly illustrate?Show answer

Try itOriginal teaching scenario: An action stops an unpleasant sound and becomes more frequent. Which idea from this section does it most directly illustrate?Show answer

Positive punishment and Negative punishment

Objective: Explain positive punishment and negative punishment, distinguish their meanings, and apply them to a described case.

Positive punishment: Positive punishment adds a consequence that decreases the relevant behavior. Negative punishment: Negative punishment removes a valued condition and decreases the relevant behavior. Learning changes behavior or knowledge through experience, with several mechanisms and limits. Classical conditioning concerns predictive associations, while operant procedures concern consequences of behavior. In operant terminology, positive and negative indicate adding and removing, not moral value. Consequences are classified by their observed effects on behavior. Observational learning can occur without immediate performance and depends on attention, memory, ability, and motivation. Application: An added consequence is followed by less of the behavior. This most directly illustrates positive punishment. Loss of a privilege is followed by reduced behavior. This most directly illustrates negative punishment.

Worked examples

Try itOriginal teaching scenario: An added consequence is followed by less of the behavior. Which idea from this section does it most directly illustrate?Show answer

Step 1 — Read the observation: An added consequence is followed by less of the behavior. Step 2 — Recall the relevant idea: Positive punishment adds a consequence that decreases the relevant behavior. Step 3 — Connect the observation to the idea: The scenario is an illustration of positive punishment. Step 4 — Check the limit: This short scenario illustrates the concept; it does not establish every detail or exclude every other influence in a real situation.

Try itOriginal teaching scenario: Loss of a privilege is followed by reduced behavior. Which idea from this section does it most directly illustrate?Show answer

Step 1 — Read the observation: Loss of a privilege is followed by reduced behavior. Step 2 — Recall the relevant idea: Negative punishment removes a valued condition and decreases the relevant behavior. Step 3 — Connect the observation to the idea: The scenario is an illustration of negative punishment. Step 4 — Check the limit: This short scenario illustrates the concept; it does not establish every detail or exclude every other influence in a real situation.

Shaping and Reinforcement schedule

Objective: Explain shaping and reinforcement schedule, distinguish their meanings, and apply them to a described case.

Shaping: Shaping reinforces successive approximations toward a target behavior. Reinforcement schedule: A schedule specifies how or when reinforcement follows behavior. Learning changes behavior or knowledge through experience, with several mechanisms and limits. Classical conditioning concerns predictive associations, while operant procedures concern consequences of behavior. In operant terminology, positive and negative indicate adding and removing, not moral value. Consequences are classified by their observed effects on behavior. Observational learning can occur without immediate performance and depends on attention, memory, ability, and motivation. Application: Training rewards progressively closer versions of a skill. This most directly illustrates shaping. A task rewards responses under a stated interval or ratio rule. This most directly illustrates reinforcement schedule.

Worked examples

Try itOriginal teaching scenario: Training rewards progressively closer versions of a skill. Which idea from this section does it most directly illustrate?Show answer

Step 1 — Read the observation: Training rewards progressively closer versions of a skill. Step 2 — Recall the relevant idea: Shaping reinforces successive approximations toward a target behavior. Step 3 — Connect the observation to the idea: The scenario is an illustration of shaping. Step 4 — Check the limit: This short scenario illustrates the concept; it does not establish every detail or exclude every other influence in a real situation.

Try itOriginal teaching scenario: A task rewards responses under a stated interval or ratio rule. Which idea from this section does it most directly illustrate?Show answer

Step 1 — Read the observation: A task rewards responses under a stated interval or ratio rule. Step 2 — Recall the relevant idea: A schedule specifies how or when reinforcement follows behavior. Step 3 — Connect the observation to the idea: The scenario is an illustration of reinforcement schedule. Step 4 — Check the limit: This short scenario illustrates the concept; it does not establish every detail or exclude every other influence in a real situation.

You finished the reading!

Lock it in with a few practice questions, then move on to the next lesson.

Practice Next lesson

Previous lessonClassical conditioning Next lessonObservational learning