Operant Conditioning
Key Terms: The Skinner Box:
operant conditioning - learning that Burrhus Frederic skinner - carried out his
occurs when a behaviour is followed research on animals which became known as the
by an event. the even either operant chamber or skinner’s box.
increases or decreases the contained a supply of food pellets that could be
probability of the behaviour being released as reinforcers when the animal learned
repeated. to do something.
reinforcement - takes place some chambers contained electrified floors which
following behaviour - increasing the would be used to punish behaviour.
probability of the behaviour
increasing. Reinforcement:
positive/negative reinforcement - The event that leads to the increased likelihood
depending on the behaviour it is of the behaviour being repeated is called a
reinforced to increase or decrease reinforcer.
it. positive reinforcement - something pleasant is
punishment - decreases the introduced following behaviour, e.g. money.
probability of behaviour being negative reinforcement - something
repeated. unpleasant is removed following behaviour e.g.
primary reinforcement - takes place pain.
when the thing that acts as a
reinforcer has biological
significance like food. Punishment:
secondary reinforcement - takes The event that leads to the decrease in likelihood
place when the thing that acts as of repeating behaviour is called a punisher.
the reinforcer has been associated positive punishment - something is added, like
with something of biological a slap following behaviour.
significance - money to but food. negative punishment - something is taken
positive/negative punishment - occurs away, being grounded losing privileges.
after behaviour, either introduced the criminal justice system uses negative
or removed to decrease repeat of punishment like prison sentences that deprive
behaviour. people of freedom and status.
When the mouse pushes the lever it
will be given pellets but if it
doesn’t it will be punished with the
electric grid.
Key Terms: The Skinner Box:
operant conditioning - learning that Burrhus Frederic skinner - carried out his
occurs when a behaviour is followed research on animals which became known as the
by an event. the even either operant chamber or skinner’s box.
increases or decreases the contained a supply of food pellets that could be
probability of the behaviour being released as reinforcers when the animal learned
repeated. to do something.
reinforcement - takes place some chambers contained electrified floors which
following behaviour - increasing the would be used to punish behaviour.
probability of the behaviour
increasing. Reinforcement:
positive/negative reinforcement - The event that leads to the increased likelihood
depending on the behaviour it is of the behaviour being repeated is called a
reinforced to increase or decrease reinforcer.
it. positive reinforcement - something pleasant is
punishment - decreases the introduced following behaviour, e.g. money.
probability of behaviour being negative reinforcement - something
repeated. unpleasant is removed following behaviour e.g.
primary reinforcement - takes place pain.
when the thing that acts as a
reinforcer has biological
significance like food. Punishment:
secondary reinforcement - takes The event that leads to the decrease in likelihood
place when the thing that acts as of repeating behaviour is called a punisher.
the reinforcer has been associated positive punishment - something is added, like
with something of biological a slap following behaviour.
significance - money to but food. negative punishment - something is taken
positive/negative punishment - occurs away, being grounded losing privileges.
after behaviour, either introduced the criminal justice system uses negative
or removed to decrease repeat of punishment like prison sentences that deprive
behaviour. people of freedom and status.
When the mouse pushes the lever it
will be given pellets but if it
doesn’t it will be punished with the
electric grid.
