Operant conditioning

• • Skinner claimed that all behaviour is learnt as a result of consequences in our environment.
  • Involves learning through consequences (positive and negative).
• Positive reinforcement:

  • Increases the likelihood of a response occurring becuase it involves a reward for the behaviour.
  • Examples- giving a dog a treat when it's learnt a new trick, pocket money for chores.
• Negative reinforcement:

  • Increases the likelihood of a response occurring because it involves the removal of, or escaping from, unpleasant consequences.
  • Examples- giving a dog a toy to stop it chewing on something, reins loosened when horse has slowed down.
• Positive punishment:

  • The consequence of receiving something unpleasant which decreases the probability of the behaviour being repeated.
  • Examples- a child sat on the naughty step, a speeding ticket.
• Negative punishment:

  • The consequence is removing something desirable and decreases the probability of the behavior being repeated again.
  • Examples- phone taken away, toys taken away.
• Examples of operant conditioning, in the real world, is the token economy- used in institutions, such as prisons, where tokens are given for good behaviour.