Operant Conditioning In Psychology

Operant conditioning is a type of learning in which a person modifies their behavior through positive and negative consequences, or as a result of positive and negative reinforcement. Unlike classical conditioning where behaviors are reflexive and involuntary, operant conditioning is a voluntary behavior. In 1905, Edward L. Thorndike conducted an experiment where he placed a hungry cat inside a “puzzle box”, and a food dish on the outside. The cat upon pressing a lever could free itself from the box and quell its hunger. Initially when the cat was placed in the box, it would push and rub against the walls of the box in an attempt to escape, before accidentally stepping on the release. Each time Thorndike conducted the experiment, the cat …show more content…
Reinforcement is the process of developing a behavior based on the response to an unconditioned stimulus. The probability of the behavior being repeated is greatly increased by following the behavior with a positive consequence, and is reduced if the behavior is followed by a negative consequence, which relates to the law of effect. There are two types of reinforcers that can be used to reinforce a behavior. The first type is called the primary reinforce. This type of reinforcer is used in conjunction with natural, basic, biological needs such as food, water, or sex. This type of reinforcement occurs naturally rather than having to be learned. In essence, primary reinforcement takes a stimulus such as thirst that is essential to our species’ survival: by drinking a glass of water, we are able to alleviate this need. The other type of reinforcer is the secondary reinforcer. The secondary reinforcer is learned rather than naturally occurring. The value of these reinforcers must be learned instead of being naturally occurring. Currency would be an example of a secondary reinforcer. As a child, money is just a piece of paper, but as we mature we learn its value. Reinforcement itself can be a positive or negative experience. Through positive reinforcement one may be rewarded positively with something of value to them, such as bonuses at work or a piece of candy for a correct answer in class, in order to modify a behavior. Negative reinforcement differs because it involves some sort of physical or psychological discomfort. Negative reinforcement works to remove a negative stimulus following a response. One example of negative reinforcement would be your alarm clock going off at 5 a.m. and you rolling over and shutting it off. You would be putting a stop to a loud, discomforting