Operant Conditioning

operant conditioning

Operant conditioning (or instrumental conditioning) is a type of learning in which an individual's behavior is modified by its consequences; the behavior may change in form, frequency, or strength. Operant conditioning is a term that was coined by B. F. Skinner in 1937. The word operant refers to, "an item of behavior that is initially spontaneous, rather than a response to a prior stimulus, but whose consequences may reinforce or inhibit recurrence of that behavior"

Operant conditioning

Operant conditioning is distinguished from classical conditioning (or respondent conditioning) in that operant conditioning deals with the modification of "voluntary behavior" or operant behavior. Operant behavior operates on the environment and is maintained by its consequences, while classical conditioning deals with the conditioning of reflexive (reflex) behaviors which are elicited by antecedent conditions. Behaviours conditioned via a classical conditioning procedure are not maintained by consequences

Tools

Reinforcement and punishment, the core tools of operant conditioning, are either positive (delivered following a response), or negative (withdrawn following a response). This creates a total of four basic consequences, with the addition of a fifth procedure known as extinction (i.e. no change in consequences following a response).

tools

• Reinforcement is a consequence that causes a behavior to occur with greater frequency.
• Punishment is a consequence that causes a behavior to occur with less frequency.
• Extinction is caused by the lack of any consequence following a behavior. When a behavior is inconsequential (i.e., producing neither favorable nor unfavorable consequences) it will occur less frequently. When a previously reinforced behavior is no longer reinforced with either positive or negative reinforcement, it leads to a decline in that behavior.

procedures

• Positive reinforcement (Reinforcement): Occurs when a behavior (response) is followed by a stimulus that is appetitive or >rewarding, increasing the frequency of that behavior. In the Skinner box experiment, a stimulus such as food or a sugar solution can be delivered when the rat engages in a target behavior, such as pressing a lever. This procedure is usually called simply reinforcement.
• Negative reinforcement (Escape): Occurs when a behavior (response) is followed by the removal of an aversive stimulus, thereby increasing that behavior's frequency. In the Skinner box experiment, negative reinforcement can be a loud noise continuously sounding inside the rat's cage until it engages in the target behavior, such as pressing a lever, upon which the loud noise is removed.

procedures

• Positive punishment (Punishment) (also called "Punishment by contingent stimulation"): Occurs when a behavior (response) is followed by a stimulus, such as introducing a shock or loud noise, resulting in a decrease in that behavior. Positive punishment is sometimes a confusing term, as it denotes the "addition" of a stimulus or increase in the intensity of a stimulus that is aversive (such as spanking or an electric shock). This procedure is usually called simply punishment.
• Negative punishment (Penalty) (also called "Punishment by contingent withdrawal"): Occurs when a behavior (response) is followed by the removal of a stimulus, such as taking away a child's toy following an undesired behavior, resulting in a decrease in that behavior.

procedures

• Extinction: Occurs when a behavior (response) that had previously been reinforced is no longer effective. For example, a rat is first given food many times for lever presses. Then, in "extinction", no food is given. Typically the rat continues to press more and more slowly and eventually stops, at which time lever pressing is said to be "extinguished."

Examples

Doctor Peabody has received a grant to study operant conditioning in puppies for the National Science Foundation.  The results of these experiments are meant to be analyzed and applied to small school children.  We will use the conditions of his university laboratory as the background for our explanation examples of operant conditioning tools. 

negative reinforcement

Dr. Peabody has connected electrocution nodes to the testicles of an Irish setter puppy named Ajax.  Dr. Peabody continuously sends volts of electricity painfully in to the pup until it lays down, at which time the electrical current is cut. 

This is a classic example of negative reinforcement as the negative stimuli is removed when the target behavior is displayed.  Good boy. 

positive reinforcement

Dr. Peabody has bought a jar of pickled pigs feet.  Working with a Labrador retriever Bob, he is attempting to teach it to bark incessantly.  When ever Bob barks Dr. Peabody feeds Bob a piece of pickled pigs foot.  

As you can see this is a clear example of positive reinforcement.  When the target behavior is displayed the the tasty pickled pigs foot is deliver to the pup, there by increasing the frequency of the dogs incessant barking. 

positive punishment

Dr. Peabody having successfully trained Bob to incessantly bark is now rightfully regretting that decision.  In order to train Bob now to incessantly bark Dr. Peabody has bought a cattle prod.  Every time that Bob barks Dr.Peabody delivers a quick and decisive electrical shock to the snoot.  

This is and example of positive punishment in that Dr. Peabody gives the pup and additional painful shock after each bark, thereby reducing the amount of barking. 

Negative Punishment

Dr. Peabody has dog named Ralph.  Ralph is a good boy.  Wherever Ralph goes he caries his favorite stuff animal with him.  This stuffed animal is a pig, and so is Dr. Peabody.  Dr. Peabody has one problem with Ralph, he is constantly getting up on Dr. Peabody's desk and shitting.  Dr. Peabody has started taking away Ralph's stuffed pig for an hour each time he shits of Dr. Peabody's desk. 

This is an example of negative punishment in that when the target behavior (desk shitting) is displayed something Ralph loves is stolen form him. 

extinction

Dr. Peabody hates pickled pigs feet.  As a result he is sick to death of smelling  the damn things every time he rewards a pup for a target behavior.  As a result no matter how much barking  or some other such thing occurs Dr. Peabody has ceased to reward it.  For a while there continued to be a lot of barking and other target behaviors, but with less and less frequency until the behaviors stopped.  

This is an example of extinguished behavior in that it has stop as a result of no further conditioning until it is forgotten.