Operant conditioning

• Positive reinforcement is giving the subject a reward for the desired behaviour
• negative reinforcement is the removal of a negative stimulus to encourage or make it easier to achieve a desired behaviour
• what is operant conditioning?

  learning through consequences
• positive punishment is adding a negative consequence to decrease a response
• negative punishment is removing a positive stimulus to encourage a behaviour
• what is skinners ABC theory?


  it is the essential frame work of operant conditioning

  • A: antecedent (the event or environment that triggers the response)
  • B: behaviour (the response, what is studied during operant conditioning)
  • C: consequence
• there are two ways to impact the subjects behaviour - reinforcement and punishment. this shapes the desired behaviour by taking small steps that lead to a finale goal
• the timings an frequency of reinforcement impact how quickly and how strongly the behaviours are learnt there are different types of schedules

  1. fixed-ratio: reinforcement happens after a set number (ie a child can get paid after 5 chores)
  2. variable-ratio: reinforcement after an unpredictable number (ie getting money from gambling)
  3. fixed-interval: reinforcement after a set period of time (ie a pay check at the end of each month)
  4. variable-interval: reinforcement at varying time intervals (ie Drivers don't get a ticket every time they speed but still may choose to stay within the speed limit)
• real life example: B.F skinners rats
• operant conditioning is an active style of learning