B. F. Skinner´s Operant Learning

Operant learning, also known as instrumental, consequence, or response learning, is experiences where the behavior is made stronger or weaker by its consequence (Chance, 2014). This term coined by B.F. Skinner, a psychologist, after studying the behavior of a rat, within a box that contained food and a lever, was built on the foundation given by E.L. Thorndike’s Law of Effect (Chance, 2014). Skinner recognized two kinds of reinforcing events; one in which a positive stimulus is presented and the other which and aversive stimulus is removed. The point of reinforcement is to grow the likelihood of that behavior happening again. While punishment decreases the likelihood of the behavior happening again. One thing to remember is that the purpose of positive and negative reinforcement is to strengthen a behavior. Whereas the purpose of positive and negative punishment is to weaken a behavior. The positive and negative connotation refers to a stimulus either being added or subtracted (Chance, …show more content…
He believed that when using positive reinforcement the results would produce long-lasting behavioral modification while punishment only produced temporary fixes. Using punishment instead of reinforcement teaches the person ways to avoid that punishment. Growing up, you realize that many of our behaviors are either rewarded or reprimanded. Following that action, we tend to either continue with that behavior or refrain from it. As children, we do not understand that this is a form of operant learning. Being able to put a name to an everyday occurrence is what sparked my interest in choosing reinforcement as my topic of choice. As an adult, sitting in class and learning about operant learning, specifically principles of learning, now gives me a better understanding of what it is my parents were either subconsciously or consciously doing for the future