AQA Psychology (A-Level) -
Approaches - Operant Conditioning3
Burrhus (B.F.) Skinner - ANSWERS-Considered free will an illusion and human action dependent
on consequences of any previous actions, i.e. bad consequences, high chance of no repetition of
action, and vice-versa; called it 'the principle of reinforcement'.
Also called the use of reinforcement to strengthen behavior 'operant conditioning', and
developed a philosophy of science he called 'radical behaviourism'.
Operant conditioning - ANSWERS-Learning through reinforcement
What does operant conditioning result in? - ANSWERS-Behavior shaped through reinforcement
or punishment.
What happens if the behavior has a desirable consequence? - ANSWERS-There is an increased
chance of the behavior being replicated.
Case study: Skinner (1935) - ANSWERS-Skinner invented a contraption called the Skinner Box, in
which he placed rats. The Skinner Box had a lever that the rats pushed, and upon doing so were
rewarded with food pellets. It also had an electric field as a floor, and whenever it was turned
on the rat would learn to press the lever to stop it; furthermore, a red light turned on before
any electric current passed through it, so the rat would learn to push the lever whenever the
light came on.
Reinforcement - ANSWERS-Something in the environment that strengths a particular behavior
and increases the likelihood of reoccurrence.
Approaches - Operant Conditioning3
Burrhus (B.F.) Skinner - ANSWERS-Considered free will an illusion and human action dependent
on consequences of any previous actions, i.e. bad consequences, high chance of no repetition of
action, and vice-versa; called it 'the principle of reinforcement'.
Also called the use of reinforcement to strengthen behavior 'operant conditioning', and
developed a philosophy of science he called 'radical behaviourism'.
Operant conditioning - ANSWERS-Learning through reinforcement
What does operant conditioning result in? - ANSWERS-Behavior shaped through reinforcement
or punishment.
What happens if the behavior has a desirable consequence? - ANSWERS-There is an increased
chance of the behavior being replicated.
Case study: Skinner (1935) - ANSWERS-Skinner invented a contraption called the Skinner Box, in
which he placed rats. The Skinner Box had a lever that the rats pushed, and upon doing so were
rewarded with food pellets. It also had an electric field as a floor, and whenever it was turned
on the rat would learn to press the lever to stop it; furthermore, a red light turned on before
any electric current passed through it, so the rat would learn to push the lever whenever the
light came on.
Reinforcement - ANSWERS-Something in the environment that strengths a particular behavior
and increases the likelihood of reoccurrence.
