Psy/390 - Operant Conditioning

Operant Conditioning

From the very beginning of the history of psychology, psychologists and scientists have been studying the concept of learning, and the many different ways animals and human beings can store and access information. There are many difference theories associated with learning, all with their advantages, disadvantages and specific characteristics that try to explain the sometimes mysterious ways human minds work when trying to learn. One of those theories was developed by behaviorist psychologist B. F. Skinner, who after experimenting with rats and pigeons identified a series of important and fundamental ideas of learning. Skinner’s theory is called Operant Conditioning, but it is also known as Instrumental conditioning or even Skinnerian conditioning.

Operant conditioning is a learning method that occurs through the application of rewards and punishments as ways to produce a desirable behavior. Skinner explained that the fundamental motivations for a determined behavior did not derivate from an internal source, such as thoughts or feelings, but from an external source, like the preceding circumstances or the posterior consequences to the behavior. Skinner once said that “we are what we have been reinforced for being”, and this affirmation is a perfect explanation of his theory, as the American psychologist believed that behaviors are consequences to the response emanated from that behavior in the first place (Olson & Hergenhahn, 2009).  The theory of operant conditioning has its name because, as Skinner explained, the term “operant” refers to an "active behavior that operates upon the environment to generate consequences" (1953). 

One of the key concepts related to operant condition is the idea of reinforcements, which can be positive or negative. Reinforcement is an event that when associated to and occurring after a behavior, can strengthen it and increase the probability of that behavior repeating itself. Positive reinforcement can be praise, or a reward, while negative reinforcement is the removal of something unpleasant. In both cases of reinforcement, the expected outcome is the increase of the expected behavior. Punishment, on the other hand, intends to decrease the reoccurrence of a behavior by either presenting an unfavorable event, which is considered positive punishment, or removing a favorable event, which is called negative punishment. In operant conditioning, extinction can occur if a behavior is no longer reinforced, or if the type of reinforcement being used in not considered rewarding anymore. Interestingly enough, Skinner found out about extinction by accident, when performing an experiment with a rat, leaving the laboratory and experiencing malfunction with the equipment (Cherry, 2013).

The type of reinforcement that has proven itself to be the most effective one seems to be the positive reinforcement, as it is connected to the individual’s emotional side and can help building that individual’s confidence and self-esteem by awarding a behavior in a positive manner. However, different situations call for different reinforcement techniques. Sometimes, if negative circumstances have already been established, a negative reinforcement may be more effective. It is also important to note that the reinforcement will be less effective if the subject has no desire for the rewards. For instance, rewarding a child with a cookie, when the child is not hungry, will probably not affect the recurrence of the desirable behavior. 

One possible scenario where some type of reinforcement reinforcement would be successful in rewarding and repeating a behavior would be in the case of trying to potty train a child. Around the age of two, most toddlers begin to show signs of being ready to stop wearing diapers and start using the potty regularly. Creating a continuous reinforcement schedule where every time the child goes to the potty she gets a small reward, like a sticker on a board, and every time she has an accident she loses a sticker will incentive that toddler to make an effort to finally learn how to use the bathroom when necessary. However, on the case it would be important to establish a deadline, so the child doesn’t expect a reward for the rest of her life whenever she uses the bathroom.

The concept of operant behavior is one of them most important concepts in psychology because it allowed scientists, psychologists and parents in general to learn how important positive and negative reinforcements are when trying to induce an individual to produce a positive and desired behavior. Although behaviorism is not a dominant school of thought in psychology anymore, health professionals, teachers, parents and even animal trainers still constantly use operant techniques to obtain a desired behavior or prevent an undesirable one, and for that reason it is easy to see how Skinner’s contributions were vital to modern psychology.

References

Cherry, K. (2013) Operant Conditioning - Introduction to Operant Conditioning. Psychology - Complete Guide to Psychology for Students, Educators & Enthusiasts. Retrieved July 22, 2013, from http://psychology.about.com/od/behavioralpsychology/a/introopcond.htm

Olson, M. H., & Hergenhahn, B. R. (2009). An introduction to theories of learning (8th ed.).