Operant Conditioning Shapes Behaviour Through Consequences
Definition
Operant Conditioning
Operant conditioning is a type of learning where behaviour is shaped by its consequences.
- Unlike classical conditioning , which involves associating two stimuli, operant conditioning focuses on the relationship between a behaviour and its outcome.
Note
- Behaviours followed by reinforcement (pleasant consequences) are more likely to be repeated
- Those followed by punishment (unpleasant consequences) are less likely to occur again.
Key Components of Operant Conditioning
- Reinforcement: Increases the likelihood of a behaviour.
- Positive Reinforcement: Adding something pleasant to encourage repetition of a behaviour.
- Negative Reinforcement: Removing something unpleasant to encourage repetition of a behaviour.
- Punishment: Decreases the likelihood of a behaviour.
- Positive Punishment: Adding something unpleasant to discourage a behaviour.
- Negative Punishment: Removing something pleasant to discourage a behaviour.
Common Mistake
- Positive does not inherently mean good, and negative does not inherently mean bad.
- Rather, positive means something is added, whereas negative means something is removed.
Example
- Positive Reinforcement: Giving a student a good grade when they do well on an exam.
- Negative Reinforcement: Pain relief after taking a painkiller.
- Positive Punishment: Yellow cards in football when a player commits a foul.
- Negative Punishment: Confiscating a teenager's phone when they misbehave.
Skinner's Experiments with Rats and Pigeons
Case study
Skinner's Experiments with Rats and Pigeons
Aim: To investigate how consequences shape behaviour.
Method:
- Skinner placed rats and pigeons in a controlled environment known as a Skinner Box.
- The box contained a lever (for rats) or a disc (for pigeons) that, when pressed or pecked, would deliver a food pellet (positive reinforcement).
- In some variations, pressing the lever would stop an electric shock (negative reinforcement).
- Skinner also introduced punishment by delivering a mild shock when the animal performed an undesired behaviour.
Results:
- Animals quickly learned to repeat behaviours that resulted in positive reinforcement (e.g., pressing the lever for food).
- Behaviours that removed unpleasant stimuli (e.g., stopping a shock) were also repeated.
- Behaviours followed by punishment were less likely to be repeated.
Conclusion: Behaviour is shaped by its consequences, with reinforcement increasing and punishment decreasing the likelihood of a behaviour.
Applications of Operant Conditioning
Education
- Teachers use positive reinforcement by praising students for participation or good work.
- Negative reinforcement might involve removing extra homework when students perform well.
- Punishment can include detention or loss of privileges for disruptive behaviour.
Parenting
- Parents use positive reinforcement by rewarding children with treats or praise for good behaviour.
- Negative reinforcement might involve stopping nagging when a child completes chores.
- Punishment can include time-outs or taking away toys for misbehaviour.
Behaviour Therapy
- Applied Behaviour Analysis is a type of therapy that has its roots in operant conditioning.
- Operant conditioning is used to shape behaviours in individuals with developmental disorders, such as autism.
Critical Thinking
Strengths
- Practical Applications: Operant conditioning is widely used in education, parenting, and therapy.
- Empirical Support: Skinner's experiments provide strong evidence for the role of consequences in shaping behaviour.
Limitations
- Ethical Concerns: Skinner's use of animals and punishment raises ethical questions.
- Oversimplification: Critics argue that operant conditioning ignores internal factors like thoughts and emotions.
Self review
- Can you explain the difference between positive and negative reinforcement?
- How does punishment differ from reinforcement?
- How might operant conditioning be applied in a classroom setting?
