Operant conditioning

Introdution

• Operant conditioning is another example of a behaviourist theory that also focuses o stimulus-response learning
• Unlike classical conditioning where learning by association is emphasised, operant conditioning focuses on the role of learning from the consequences of our behaviour

Skinner's research

• BF Skinner conducted research placing rats into a cage that was specifically designed to deliver food only when a lever was pressed by the rat
• He found that the rats quickly learned to press the lever and would continue to do this until they were full
• Skinner conducted variations of the study
• One used a box that administered a continous electric shock under the rats' feet until the lever was pressed
• Another variation delivered a shock to the rat when the lever was pressed
• In both cases, the rats swiftly what would lead to the most positive consequence and would repeat that behaviour

Operant conditioning

• Operant conditioning is learning from the consequences of our behaviour
• Positive and negative reinforcements mean we are more likely to repeat a behaviour, while punishment teds to prevent behaviour being repeated
• -Positive reinforcement is a reward as a positive consequence of the action
• -Negative reinforcement means removing something unpleasant as a positive consequence of an action
• -Punishment is a negative consequence of an action

Schedules of reinforcement

• Reinforcing every response (continuous reinforcement) is a useful way to establish the learning of a particular response, but is difficult to maintain over a long period of time
• A partial reinforcement schedule would reinforce regularly and is more easily maintained over time

Types of punishment

• Punishment can be positive where an unpleasant action is given as a consequence of behaviour
• Punishment can also be negative where something pleasant is removed as a consequence of a behaviour

Evaluation

• +Evidence suggests that operant conditioning is an effective way for both humans and animals to learn. For example, schools use operant conditioning to shape student behaviour through rewards and punishments
• +Token economies, a form of therapy based on operant conditioning, have been shown to be effective for treating many different problematic behaviours, such as reducing aggressive behaviour in prisoners
• -Skinner's work was conducted on animals and has been criticised for then being applied to humans. One reason is that humans often have thoughts associated with learning that are not taken into account in this theory of learning
• -Much of the research took place on animals and exposed them to some unpleasant stimuli, which may breach ethical guidelines