Operant Conditioning

Paper Summary:

This paper describes and explains the term operant conditioning as used in psychology to modify the occurrence and form of behavior. The author also provides a brief outline of the work carried out by the man who introduced this technique - B. F. Skinner.

From the Paper:

"The term operant conditioning was invented by B. F. Skinner in 1937 in the background of reflex physiology, to differentiate what he was interested in; behavior that affects the environment - from the reflex-related subject matter of the Pavlovian conditioning. Operant conditioning is the use of consequences to modify the occurrence and form of behavior. Operant conditioning is distinguished from Pavlovian conditioning as operant conditioning deals with the modification of "voluntary behavior" through the use of consequences, while Pavlovian conditioning deals with the conditioning of behavior so that it occurs under new antecedent conditions. The word "Operant Conditioning" was used by B.F.Skinner to clarify the effects of consequences of a specific conduct on the upcoming happening of that conduct. It can be categorized in four parts which are Positive and negative reinforcement, punishment and extinction. Positive and negative reinforcement help to make the conduct stronger, while punishment and extinction is a negative factor for the behavior and thus it weakens the activity or behavior. (B.F Skinner pg 429-432) The Positive Reinforcement describes a situation in which the behavior is supported or built stronger by the help of going through a positive condition. For instance: A mouse that is starving presses a bar in its cage and gets food. This food becomes a positive condition for the starving mouse. Thus this makes the mouse press the bar for more food so that he can get the food again. This action done by the mouse is supported by the end result of receiving food (i.e. a positive condition.
The Negative Reinforcement describes a situation in which the behavior is supported by the fear of avoiding a negative situation. For instance: A mouse is positioned in a cage and it instantaneously receives a mild electrical shock. The shock becomes a negative state for the mouse. And as the mouse presses a bar the shock discontinues. The mouse gets another electrical shock soon after which leads him to press the bar again and the shock discontinues again. The act of pressing the bar by the mouse is supported by the end result of stopping the shock which is a negative factor for the mouse. Thus a negative factor is naturally avoided by any being."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Grossman, S. P. (1973). Essentials of physiological psychology. New York: Wiley.
• Functional and Neural Mechanisms of Interval Timing - Page 60 by Warren H. Meck - Psychology - 2003 - 551 pages
• Talton, L. E., Higa, J. J., & Staddon, J. E. R. (1999). Interval schedule performance in the goldfish Carassius auratus. BP, 45, 193.
• STADDON JE. (1965). SOME PROPERTIES OF SPACED RESPONDING IN PIGEONS. Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior. 8, 19-27.
• Sandy S. Venneman, Laura Ruth Knowles. (2005) Sniffing Out Efficacy: Sniffy Lite, a Virtual Animal Lab. Teaching of Psychology 32:1, 66-68

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