Operant Conditioning

• define operant conditioning


  learning through consequences, punishments to stop behaviour and rewards to reinforce behaviour
• whats a positive reinforcement


  giving something pleasant
• whats a negative reinforcement


  taking something unpleasant away
• define positive punishment


  giving something unpleasant
• whats negative punishment


  removing something pleasant
• what was skinners experiment

  conducted experiments with rats and pigeons in skinner boxes. When the animal activated a lever they were rewarded with food
• what did skinner show on conditioning in his experiment


  animals can be conditioned to perform the same behavior to avoid and unpleasant stimulus
• what are strengths of operant and classical conditioning


  scientific credibility: uses observable behaviour, highly controlled, reliable and accurate Real life application: This conditioning is used in prisons where good behaviour is rewarded with tokens ti be exchanged for privledges. Classical is applied to phobia treatment which requires less effort from the patient
• whats a limitation of this and clasical conditioning

  ethical and practical issues: animals in skinner box in stressful conditions which could've affected how they reacted . low ecological validity
• define extinction


  the lack of any consequence following behaviour leads to decline in response