The behaviourist approach - operant conditioning
The basic idea behind Skinner’s theory of Key research evidence – Skinner (1953)
operant conditioning (Skinner, 1938) is that Skinner’s research examined operant conditioning in rats
organisms spontaneously produce different and pigeons. The animal would move around the Skinner
behaviours, and these behaviours produce box, and when it pressed the lever (by accident), it would
consequences for that organism, some of be rewarded with a food pellet. The rat would learn,
which may be positive (i.e. desirable) and through positive reinforcement, that each time it pressed
some negative (i.e. undesirable). the lever, it would be rewarded with food. Consequently,
Whether or not an organism repeats a because the animal was rewarded for its behaviour, it
particular behaviour depends on the nature of would continue to press the lever and demonstrate the
these consequences, i.e. it is reinforced new behaviour. Furthermore, Skinner also showed that
(making it more likely to be repeated in the rats could be conditioned through negative reinforcement
future) or punished (making it less likely to be to avoid an unpleasant stimulus such as an electric shock
repeated). which was a punishment to the rats.
Positive reinforcement
• This is when a behaviour is followed by a ______________.
reward This is likely to ______________
Repeat
the ______________
behaviour and as a result it will______________
Increase in frequency.
Negative reinforcement:
• This is when a behaviour is carried out to ______________
avoid experiencing ________________
unpleasant
stimuli. This is also likely to ________________
Repeat the behaviour and as a result it will
______________
increase in frequency.
Punishment:
• This is when a behaviour is followed by ______________
unpleasant consequences (_______________).
punishment
This is likely to ______________
Stop the behaviour and as a result it will _______________
decrease in
frequency.
, Positive reinforcement Punishment
• reward trips Negative reinforcement • study hall
• Point system • avoiding the study hall • Observation placement
• Behaving to avoid • Points being removed
observation placement
Exlplains the maintanence of phobias
through avoidance learning, seen in
operant conditioning. Reduces the anxious
feeling - negative
Move away from the reinforcement
source of the phobia
Frequency of reinforcement
• The frequency and the way in which reinforcement is administered can affect the likelihood
of it affecting behaviour.
The basic idea behind Skinner’s theory of Key research evidence – Skinner (1953)
operant conditioning (Skinner, 1938) is that Skinner’s research examined operant conditioning in rats
organisms spontaneously produce different and pigeons. The animal would move around the Skinner
behaviours, and these behaviours produce box, and when it pressed the lever (by accident), it would
consequences for that organism, some of be rewarded with a food pellet. The rat would learn,
which may be positive (i.e. desirable) and through positive reinforcement, that each time it pressed
some negative (i.e. undesirable). the lever, it would be rewarded with food. Consequently,
Whether or not an organism repeats a because the animal was rewarded for its behaviour, it
particular behaviour depends on the nature of would continue to press the lever and demonstrate the
these consequences, i.e. it is reinforced new behaviour. Furthermore, Skinner also showed that
(making it more likely to be repeated in the rats could be conditioned through negative reinforcement
future) or punished (making it less likely to be to avoid an unpleasant stimulus such as an electric shock
repeated). which was a punishment to the rats.
Positive reinforcement
• This is when a behaviour is followed by a ______________.
reward This is likely to ______________
Repeat
the ______________
behaviour and as a result it will______________
Increase in frequency.
Negative reinforcement:
• This is when a behaviour is carried out to ______________
avoid experiencing ________________
unpleasant
stimuli. This is also likely to ________________
Repeat the behaviour and as a result it will
______________
increase in frequency.
Punishment:
• This is when a behaviour is followed by ______________
unpleasant consequences (_______________).
punishment
This is likely to ______________
Stop the behaviour and as a result it will _______________
decrease in
frequency.
, Positive reinforcement Punishment
• reward trips Negative reinforcement • study hall
• Point system • avoiding the study hall • Observation placement
• Behaving to avoid • Points being removed
observation placement
Exlplains the maintanence of phobias
through avoidance learning, seen in
operant conditioning. Reduces the anxious
feeling - negative
Move away from the reinforcement
source of the phobia
Frequency of reinforcement
• The frequency and the way in which reinforcement is administered can affect the likelihood
of it affecting behaviour.
