...Operant conditioning is defined in our text book as “behavior that operates on the environment to produce rewarding or punishing stimuli (Myers, 275). Vina smokes cigarettes to help reduce her feelings of tension and anxiety; her feelings of tension and anxiety were most likely her negative stimuli causing her to want to get rid of them. Smoking which for her, causes those unwanted feeling to disappear was her negative reinforcer. Although Vina may know that smoking has a negative effect on her health, it may not be enough to make her discontinue the bad habit. Vina’s reinforcement to her habit is most likely conditioned. Assuming that she tried other things to help lessen her anxiety and tension, after trying cigarettes for the first time she realized that almost instantly her negative stimuli seemed to have disappeared; causing her to want to continue the behavior that removed her negative emotions. As long as she continues to smoke she won’t feel tension or anxiety. This also explains how her addiction to cigarettes is negative reinforcement. Tension and anxiety are the stimuli that trigger her need or want for a cigarette, once she finally smokes those feelings are removed. In continuation to operant conditioning, her reinforcement can also be explained as immediate. The feeling of tension and anxiety can be intense for some people, although it is not explained to what extent Vina’s feelings of tension and anxiety are it is safe to say that she does not like feeling that...
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...What Is Operant Conditioning? Operant conditioning (sometimes referred to as instrumental conditioning) is a method of learning that occurs through rewards and punishments for behavior. Through operant conditioning, an association is made between a behavior and a consequence for that behavior. Operant conditioning was coined by behaviorist B.F. Skinner, which is why you may occasionally hear it referred to as Skinnerian conditioning. As a behaviorist, Skinner believed that internal thoughts and motivations could not be used to explain behavior. Instead, he suggested, we should look only at the external, observable causes of human behavior. Skinner used the term operant to refer to any "active behavior that operates upon the environment to generate consequences" (1953). In other words, Skinner's theory explained how we acquire the range of learned behaviors we exhibit each and every day. Examples of Operant Conditioning We can find examples of operant conditioning at work all around us. Consider the case of children completing homework to earn a reward from a parent or teacher, or employees finishing projects to receive praise or promotions. In these examples, the promise or possibility of rewards causes an increase in behavior, but operant conditioning can also be used to decrease a behavior. The removal of an undesirable outcome or the use of punishment can be used to decrease or prevent undesirable behaviors. For example, a child may be told they will lose recess privileges...
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...Lacretia Heintzman Unit 4 Project Prof. Kristina Noriega PS124 Introduction to Psychology Kaplan University Operant conditioning: was the process of teaching behavioral, this was based on different stimuli (Stangor, C.). Different kinds of behaviors can be caused from the external stimuli. If one knows what the consequences are when they get into trouble the behavior may end up leading them being encouraged or not being encouraged to continue with the behavior. Take for example getting a new puppy. When you bring in a new puppy into the house you have to teach them to go outside to use the bathroom instead of using where they want to go which is the house. So, one thing you can do is start putting puppy pads down in front of the door and any other areas that they may be using the bathroom at. If the puppy starts using the bathroom on the puppy pad then you can praise them to let them know that is acceptable behavior. Occasionally they may have an accident and you can let them know that is bad behavior and take them either to the pad or even outside to let them know this is where you go to the restroom at. I just received a new German Shepard puppy and I am the process of training him. Eventually, if you continue to praise them for good behavior they will recognize this and will catch on to the idea that they would get a treat if he goes outside to use the bathroom. I am in the process now to opening the door and asking my dogs including the puppy who wants to...
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...Operant Conditioning Paper Operant conditioning is very common in society today. Most people are unaware that they are using it throughout their everyday encounters. There are many different ways to enforce operant conditioning. In this paper we will describe the theory of operant conditioning, compare and contrast positive and negative reinforcement, determine which form of reinforcement is most effective and why, select a scenario where you could apply operant conditioning to shape behavior, and create a reinforcement schedule for the selected behavior. Many people go throughout their lifetime applying psychological concepts such as operant conditioning and they are completely unaware of it. Operant conditioning is simply a method used to enforce punishment and reward to achieve a certain behavior. B.F Skinner was the famous behaviorist that believed this form of conditioning was the most successful. If you ever had a dog from the beginning stages of its life you know that training a puppy is a lot of work. In order to do so successfully, you would need to shape the puppies behavior using a punishment or reward method in order to housebreak the puppy. If you wanted the puppy to never jump on the couch, every time the puppy did you could enforce a reward or punishment to achieve that wanted behavior. By doing this, you would be using operant conditioning (Cherry, 2014). When applying operant conditioning, you have a choice of using positive or negative reinforcement. According...
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...According to Skinner’s theory, “Operant” refers to how an organism operates on the environment, and hence, operant conditioning comes from how we respond to what is presented to us in the environment. It can be thought of as learning due to the natural consequences of our actions (B.F.Skinner,1904-1990). Like all the learning theories out there, Skinners operant conditioning theory has both positive and negative (reinforcement & punishment) feature. There are various strengths to this theory, as well as weakness. Operant conditioning explains a broad range of phenomena, such as when a person is rewarded for a behaviour, it is more likely for it occur again. Many organisation employ the use of positive reinforcement to builds confidence and helps employees have a more pleasurable experience at work. While, avoid the side-effects of punishment or negative reinforcement, such as frustration, anger, anxiety and depression( Kashdan and Fincham,2004,p 484 as cited in Leslie E, Linsey N, Richard, 2012). Case study, Airbnb.Inc gives all of its employees $2,000 a year to travel anywhere in the world they want to.Besides the awesome travel stipend, Airbnbers allowed to bring their pets to work every day, they go sailing together, have a ping pong table, weekly Yoga classes is provide and get to eat organic lunches on a daily basis(Natalie W,2013). Positive reward will motivates efficient workers to continue to do a good job.In contrast, lack of reinforcement leads to job dissatisfaction...
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...Operant Conditioning Pamela Combs PS124: Introduction to Psychology Kaplan University June 9, 2014 Operant conditioning is a method of learning base upon a system of rewards and punishments to change behavior. In other words, psychologist use positive and negative reinforcement or positive and negative punishment to change behavior using a basic cause and effect method. Psychologist Edward L. Thorndike was the first to study operant behavior and was later expanded on by psychologist B. F. Skinner. Skinner was a behaviorist that believed that to understand behavior you must look at the causes of actions, and its consequences. Skinner’s theory explains how we acquire the range of learned behaviors we display each and every day. Two of the four components used in operant conditioning are positive and negative reinforcement, which is used to increase a desired behavior. Positive reinforcement is defined in our text and there is really no better way to explain it, as the strengthening of a response by presenting a typically pleasurable stimulus after the response. (Stangor, 2010, p. 204). An example of using positive reinforcement is that I gave my child a prize after he got a good grade in his class. Another example is that I received praise for doing a good job at work. Ethical concerns when using this method is one might come to expect a reward for the certain desired behavior. Negative reinforcement is defined as the strengthening of a response by removing a typically...
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...Operant Conditioning for Addictions Operant conditioning is the second learning principle. This type of learning occurs due to the cause-and-effect relationship between a behavior and its consequences. Operant conditioning has a common sense element. When we reward a behavior, it increases. When we punish a behavior, it decreases. A substance or activity can only become addictive if it is rewarding; i.e., if it is pleasurable or enjoyable (at least initially). Individuals who dislike particular substances or activities have little risk for developing an addiction to those substances or activities. Such dislikes are not uncommon. Some people do not enjoy certain substances or activities. This protects them from developing an addiction simply because those substances or activities are not enjoyable. They are not rewarding. Addiction is a learned behavior because the initial pleasure or enjoyment was rewarding. According to the principles of operant conditioning, rewarded behaviors will increase. Of particular concern is that most addictive substances and activities are immediately rewarding. Research has taught us that when we immediately reward a behavior people (and animals) learn it more quickly. This also explains why the addictive substance or activity tends to replace other, more healthy sources of reward. These other types of rewards are frequently delayed (such as the return of good health). An unfortunate cycle also develops. As addiction progresses, the availability...
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...What Is Operant Conditioning? Operant conditioning (sometimes referred to as instrumental conditioning) is a method of learning that occurs through rewards and punishments for behavior. Through operant conditioning, an association is made between a behavior and a consequence for that behavior. Operant conditioning was coined by behaviorist B.F. Skinner, which is why you may occasionally hear it referred to as Skinnerian conditioning. As a behaviorist, Skinner believed that internal thoughts and motivations could not be used to explain behavior. Instead, he suggested, we should look only at the external, observable causes of human behavior. Skinner used the term operant to refer to any "active behavior that operates upon the environment to generate consequences" (1953). In other words, Skinner's theory explained how we acquire the range of learned behaviors we exhibit each and every day. Examples of Operant Conditioning We can find examples of operant conditioning at work all around us. Consider the case of children completing homework to earn a reward from a parent or teacher, or employees finishing projects to receive praise or promotions. In these examples, the promise or possibility of rewards causes an increase in behavior, but operant conditioning can also be used to decrease a behavior. The removal of an undesirable outcome or the use of punishment can be used to decrease or prevent undesirable behaviors. For example, a child may be told they will lose recess privileges...
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...B.F. Skinner believed environment plays a significant role in shaping our personalities and that society conditions us to behave a certain way. His theory contains three types of conditioning: negative and positive reinforcement plus punishment. Reinforcements enhance behavior while punishment quells unwanted behavior (Hunt and Colander, 2008, p 147-148). Society expects people to use normal tones of voice and respect for others when engaging another person. Parents are expected to teach or condition their children to act accordingly. When my son asks politely for something I put on the excited Mommy face and tell him I like when he uses his normal voice and says please and thank you. If he screams or whines for something I use the stern Mommy face and tell him he needs to use his normal voice and manners if he wants attention. If he escalades into a tantrum from not getting his way I make sure he is safe and I leave the room. Society expects people to use normal tones of voice and respect for others when engaging another person. Parents are expected to teach or condition their children to act accordingly. Serving nine years in the Navy definitely made an impact on the way my personality developed as an adult. It started in bootcamp where the goal of the Recruit Division Commanders (RDC) was to mold me into a Sailor that followed orders and conformed to Navy standards. Following orders without questions was of course difficult at first. Marching correctly...
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...Operant Conditioning Paper Operant conditioning relies on the consequences of an exhibited behavior, and the impact the behavior has on certain learning experiences. This type of conditioning requires stimuli and reinforcers (both positive and negative) (Olsen & Hergenhahn, 2009). Along with using punishments that exhibit both positive and negative influences, both of which contribute to behavior and learning. Operant conditioning can be observed on a daily basis. It is a typical form of learning that some might take for granted. Operant conditioning can be used to influence certain behaviors as well as to decrease certain behaviors (Kirsch & Lynn, 2004). This is done when punishments or reinforcements are used to adapt or eliminate a specific behavior (including fear, anxiety and phobias). Reinforcements can be used strengthen or increase a behavior that accompanies the reinforcement (Barash, 2005). Positive reinforcers are events or outcomes that are presented after the behavior, thus allowing for better or continuous behavior. Children attaining good grades would receive a positive reinforcement that would allow them to continue to do well in school. Negative reinforcement is the removal of unfavorable events or outcomes after the behavior is displayed (Barash, 2005). This would strengthen the response by removing something that is considered to be unpleasant. Like an unruly animal that causes fear, taking the animal away creates a peaceful environment. When it comes...
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...Operant Conditioning in the Criminal Justice System Christine Morton Psychology of Criminal Behavior CCJS 461 Instructor: David Bierie June 02, 2015 There are many theories of behaviorism that started in the year of 1920 and continued through the 1950’s. Behaviorism is a scientific study of behaviors when in the midst of thinking or feeling where explanations of behaviors are the focus. The main focus is to observe behaviors with a common denominator of stimulus-response for individuals to learn. John B. Watson is remembered for his views and theories of behaviorism. The focus for his study was on the behaviors alone and not combining the mind, body, or consciousness. John B Watson had theories that were referred to as “learning through stimulus substitution.” The theory of John B Watson was to use substitution of one stimuli for another stimuli. John B Watson believed that behaviors can be trained, measured, and changed regardless of personality or traits. He was the Father of psychology. Behavioral theories are behavior observations that are brought upon by conditioning which happens through human interactions with the environment. The most famous research study done by John B Watson was the study of enabling a child to fear the white rat. This was a conditioned experiment where a loud clanging noise would emit whenever the white rat was brought into notice. Edward Thorndike is famous for his study in psychology of learning that was...
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...Classical Conditioning Classical conditioning is a type of learning which can explain how we develop fears, phobias and other emotional reactions, and food aversions. Ian Pavlov (1849 – 1936) was the first to study it formally. Pavlov was studying dogs digestive processes. Dogs automatically salivate when food arrives in their mouths, but after being in the experimental situation for a while, they would salivate in anticipation of the food arriving, as if they had learned to recognise the signs that the food was on its way. Pavlov took control of these signs and showed that dogs could be trained to salivate to bells, lights, and cardboard shapes instead of food. The classical conditioning process works like this: There must first of all be an innate reflex action, an automatic involuntary response to a stimulus. E.g. blinking, salivation, startle, these are the areas that are under the control of the autonomic nervous system. Such reflexes consist of an unconditional stimulus (UCS) which brings about an unconditional response.(UCR) The experimenter presents a neutral stimulus just before or along with the UCS. The new stimulus is called a conditioned stimulus (CS), Conditional means dependent upon learning. The UCR occurs as before. After several pairings of the CS and UCS the CS alone will be enough to bring about the UCR. The animal now has a new conditioned reflex. The model gives us an explanation for all kinds of learned behaviour. Watson and Rayner (1920) classically...
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...Operant Conditioning and Child Rearing Most people consider that learning takes place as a natural response from animals to diverse experiences. Nevertheless, learning is part of a more complex process that takes place when humans experience diverse events. Classical and operant conditioning are basic learning forms by which diverse patterns of behavior are acquired when a well-defined stimuli is present in a life experience. This paper discusses how the concept of operant conditioning may be applied in educating a child. Prior to discussing the concept it deems pertinent defining “operant conditioning as a form of cognition in which a voluntary response is strengthened or weakened, depending on its favorable or unfavorable consequences" (Feldman, 2009). The concept contrasts with classical conditioning as the later deals with biological responses to stimuli while operant conditioning relates to voluntary responses performed to generate a desired outcome. In sum, operant conditioning emphasizes the notion that organisms operate on their current environments to produce a wanted result. BF Skinner, the most influential proponent of the concept of operating conditioning wanted to confirm that human behavior changes as a result of the environment changes. In this notion, Skinner attested that operant conditioning is learning in which behavioral responses differ depending on the outcomes such behaviors produce. Consequently, humans are able to willingly control the choices of...
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...For each of the following, describe the best course of action using operant conditioning techniques. 1. Morgan is a 5th grade teacher. Johnny is in Morgan’s class and is being disruptive. He talks out of turn and makes “smart” remarks. What should Morgan do? Morgan should react by applying positive punishment. For example, she should either give Johnny lines, or send him to detention. 2. Juanita is trying to discourage her cat from jumping up on the counter. What should Juanita do? Which things should she avoid doing? Juanita should spray her cat with water every time it jumps up on the counter to teach it not to jump up on the counter. She should avoid being abusive to her cat, such as administering physical punishment. 3. Carl is 15...
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...indicates that environmental factors, such as learning, contribute more to the etiology and maintenance of anxiety than do genes (Eley, 2001). The principles of operant conditioning have taught us to recognize how certain coping techniques can reward, and therefore continue anxiety disorders. Two similar coping strategies for dealing with anxiety symptoms are called avoidance and escape. For more information about coping strategies, please review this section. As the name implies, avoidance refers to behaviors that attempt to prevent exposure to a fear-provoking stimulus. Escape means to quickly exit a fear-provoking situation. These coping strategies are considered maladaptive because they ultimately serve to maintain the disorder and decrease functioning. Operant conditioning enables us to understand the powerful impact of these two coping strategies. Both coping strategies are highly reinforcing because they remove or diminish the unpleasant symptoms. Unfortunately, they do nothing to prevent the symptoms from re-occurring again and again in the future. In 1947, O. Hobart Mowrer proposed his two-factor theory of avoidance learning to explain the development and maintenance of phobias. Mowrer's two-factor theory combined the learning principles of classical and operant conditioning. Based upon the principles of classical...
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