If you're seeing this message, it means we're having trouble loading external resources on our website. Show
If you're behind a web filter, please make sure that the domains *.kastatic.org and *.kasandbox.org are unblocked. Instrumental conditioning; Negative punishment; Negative reinforcement; Positive punishment; Positive reinforcement DefinitionIn behavioral learning theory, operant conditioning is defined as a learning process in which the likelihood of a specific voluntary behavior is strengthened (increases in frequency) or weakened (decreases in frequency) in response to consequences (reinforcement or punishment, respectively), occurring after the behavior is exhibited. IntroductionOperant conditioning is a learning process appearing in behavioral learning theory. According to the theory, the likelihood of a specific voluntary behavior is strengthened (increases in frequency) or weakened (decreases in frequency) in response to the consequences (reinforcement or punishment, respectively) that follow the behavior. Whereas classical conditioning is used to re-train reflect behaviors (e.g., crying when we feel afraid, salivating when we smell food) so that they appear under new conditions... This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution. Fig. 1  Alberto, P. A., & Troutman, A. C. (2009). Applied behavior analysis for teachers. Upper Sadle River: Pearson/Merrill. Google Scholar American Psychological Association. (2002). Eminent psychologists of the 20th century. Monitor on Psychology, 33(7), 29. Google Scholar Azrin, N. H., Hutchinson, R. R., & Hake, D. F. (1966). Extinction-induced aggression. Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 9, 191–204. CrossRef PubMed PubMed Central Google Scholar Baer, D. M., Wolf, M. A., & Risley, T. R. (1968). Some current dimensions of applied behaviour analysis. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 1, 91–97. CrossRef PubMed PubMed Central Google Scholar Cooper, J. O., Heron, T. E., & Heward, W. L. (2007). Applied behavior analysis (2nd ed.). Upper Saddle River: Pearson Education. Google Scholar Daly, E. J., Martens, B. K., Skinner, C. H., & Noell, G. H. (2009). Contributions of applied behavior analysis. In T. B. Gutkin & C. R. Reynolds (Eds.), Handbook of school psychology (4th ed., pp. 84–106). New York: Wiley. Google Scholar Dawkins, R. (1976). The selfish gene. New York: Oxford University Press. Google Scholar Donahoe, J. W. (2003). Selectionism. In K. A. Lattal & P. N. Chase (Eds.), Behavior theory and philosophy (pp. 103–128). New York: Kluwer/Plenum. CrossRef Google Scholar Donahoe, J. W., & Palmer, D. C. (1994). Learning and complex behavior. Boston: Allyn and Bacon. Google Scholar Driscoll, M. P. (2000). Psychology of learning for instruction. Needham Heights: Allyn & Bacon. Google Scholar Ferster, C. B., & Skinner, B. F. (1957). Schedules of reinforcement. Englewood Cliffs: Prentice-Hall. CrossRef Google Scholar Genovese, J. E. C. (2007). Evolutionary psychology and behavior analysis: Toward convergence. The Behavior Analyst Today, 8(2), 187–195. CrossRef Google Scholar Huitt, W., & Hummel, J. (1997). An introduction to operant (instrumental) conditioning. Educational psychology interactive. Valdosta: Valdosta State University. Retrieved 3 Jan 2018 from http://www.edpsycinteractive.org/topics/behavior/operant.html. Jones, R. T., & Kazdin, A. E. (1975). Programming response maintenance after withdrawing token reinforcement. Behavior Therapy, 6(2), 153–164. CrossRef Google Scholar Kamin, L. J. (1969). Predictability, surprise, attention, and conditioning. In B. A. Campbell & R. M. Church (Eds.), Punishment and aversive behavior (pp. 279–296). New York: Appleton -Century-Crofts. Google Scholar Keenan, M., Kerr, K. P., & Dillenburger, K. (2000). Parents’ education as autism therapists: Applied behaviour analysis in context. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers. Google Scholar Klinger, E., Barta, S. G., & Kemble, E. D. (1974). Cyclic activity changes during extinction in rats: A potential model for depression. Animal Learning and Behavior, 2, 313–316. CrossRef Google Scholar Landrum, T. J., & Kauffman, J. M. (2006). Behavioral approaches to classroom management. In C. M. Evertson & C. S. Weinstein (Eds.), Handbook of classroom management: Research, practice, and contemporary issues (pp. 47–71). Mahwah: Erlbaum. Google Scholar Lerman, D. C., & Iwata, B. A. (1995). Prevalence of the extinction burst and its attenuation during treatment. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 28, 93–94. CrossRef PubMed PubMed Central Google Scholar McGill, P. (1999). Establishing operations: Implications for the assessment, treatment and prevention of problem behaviour. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 32, 393–418. CrossRef PubMed Central Google Scholar Miltenberger, R. G. (2008). Behavior modification: Principles and procedures. Belmont: Thomson Wadsworth. Google Scholar Morris, E. K., Smith, N. G., & Altus, D. E. (2005). B. F. Skinner’s contributions to applied behavior analysis. The Behavior Analyst, 28, 99–131. CrossRef PubMed PubMed Central Google Scholar Mowrer, O. H., & Jones, H. (1945). Habit strength as a function of the pattern of reinforcement. Journal of Experimental Psychology, 35, 293–311. CrossRef Google Scholar Ormrod, J. E. (2016). Human learning. Boston: Pearson Education Limited. Google Scholar Powell, R. A., Honey, P. L., & Symbaluk, D. G. (2017). Introduction to learning and behavior (5th ed.). Boston: Cengage Learning. Google Scholar Prados, J., Sansa, J., & Artigas, A. A. (2008). Partial reinforcement effects on learning and extinction of place preference in the water maze. Learning and Behavior, 36(4), 311–318. CrossRef PubMed Google Scholar Reynolds, G. S. (1975). A primer of operant conditioning (2nd ed.). Glenview: Scott, Foresman. Google Scholar Skinner, B. F. (1937). Two types of conditioned reflex: A reply to Konorski and Miller. Journal of General Psychology. 16, 272–279. CrossRef Google Scholar Skinner, B. F. (1938). The behavior of organisms: An experimental analysis. New York: Appleton-Century. Google Scholar Skinner, B. F. (1948). Superstition in the pigeon. Journal of Experimental Psychology, 38(2), 168–172. CrossRef PubMed Google Scholar Skinner, B. F. (1951). How to teach animals. Scientific American, 185(6), 26–29. CrossRef Google Scholar Skinner, B. F. (1953). Science and human behavior. New York: Pearson Education. Google Scholar Skinner, B. F. (1974). About behaviorism. New York: Vintage Books. Google Scholar Skinner, B. F. (1977). Herrnstein and the evolution of behaviorism. American Psychologist, 32, 1006–1012. CrossRef Google Scholar Skinner, B. F. (1981). Selection by consequences. Science, 213(4507), 501–504. CrossRef PubMed Google Scholar Skinner, B. F. (1984). The evolution of behavior. Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 41(2), 217–221. CrossRef PubMed PubMed Central Google Scholar Snowman, J., & McCown, R. (2012). Psychology applied to teaching. Stamford: Cengage Learning. Google Scholar Sulzer-Azaroff, B., & Mayer, R. (1991). Behavior analysis for lasting change. Fort Worth: Holt, Reinhart & Winston. Google Scholar Thorndike, E. L. (1898). Animal intelligence: An experimental study of the associative processes in animals. Psychological Monographs: General and Applied, 2(4), i-109. Google Scholar Thorndike, E. L. (1911). Animal intelligence. New York: Macmillan. Google Scholar Walker, J. E., & Shea, T. M. (1995). Behavior management: A practical approach for educators. Englewood Cliffs: Merrill/Prentice Hall. Google Scholar Zeiler, M. D. (1971). Eliminating behavior with reinforcement. Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 16, 401–405. CrossRef PubMed PubMed Central Google Scholar Download references Author informationAuthors and Affiliations
Authors
Corresponding authorCorrespondence to Ioulia Papageorgi . Editor informationEditors and Affiliations
Section Editor information
Rights and permissionsReprints and Permissions Copyright information© 2018 Springer International Publishing AG About this entryCite this entryPapageorgi, I. (2018). Operant Conditioning. In: Shackelford, T., Weekes-Shackelford, V. (eds) Encyclopedia of Evolutionary Psychological Science. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-16999-6_1047-1 When the frequency of a behavior is decreased by learning this is called?Operant Conditioning. Thorndike and Skinner. Type of learning in which CONSEQUENCES increase or decrease the frequency of a behavior: (Law of effect, operant, reinforcer, punisher)
What leads to a decrease in the frequency of a behavior?Negative reinforcement always decreases the frequency of behavior, whereas punishment often increases it.
What is an event that decreases the behavior it follows?Punishment is defined as a consequence that follows an operant response that decreases (or attempts to decrease) the likelihood of that response occurring in the future.
Whats the name for it increase the frequency of a behavior?Reinforcers. A consequence stimulus that increases the target behavior it follows is referred to as a reinforcer. There are two categories of reinforcers: unconditioned and conditioned.
|
