PSY 101 - Operant Conditioning

Operant Conditioning

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  Involves learning that occurs when voluntary actions become associated with their consequences

  
  

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  Involves learning that occurs when in-voluntary actions become associated with their consequences

  
  

OPERANT CONDITIONING AND THE LAW OF EFFECT

• behaviors that lead to positive outcomes will be repeated

  behaviors that lead to negative outcomes will not be repeated

  
  

• behaviors that lead to positive outcomes will not be repeated

  behaviors that lead to negative outcomes will be repeated

  
  

Skinner was a behaviorist, what did he believe

• • He believed that every thought, emotion, and behavior is shaped by factors in the environment

• • He believed that every thought, emotion, and behavior is not shaped by factors in the environment

• Positive reinforcement

• Occurs when reinforcers are added or presented following the target behavior

• • Involves the removal of an unpleasant stimulus following a target behavior 

• Negative reinforcement

• Occurs when reinforcers are added or presented following the target behavior

• • Involves the removal of an unpleasant stimulus following a target behavior 

Positive punishment

• • Addition of something unpleasant following an unwanted behavior, with the intention of decreasing that behavior

• Removal of something desirable following an unwanted behavior, with the intention of decreasing that behavior

Negative punishment

• • Addition of something unpleasant following an unwanted behavior, with the intention of decreasing that behavior

• Removal of something desirable following an unwanted behavior, with the intention of decreasing that behavior