GENERAL PSYCHOLOGY



General Psychology



In psychology, operant conditioning is a form of learning in which the consequence (reinforcing stimulus) is contingent on the response that the subject has previously issued. Operant conditioning involves the execution of behaviors that operate on the environment.

Operant conditioning is a type of associative learning that has to do with the development of new behaviors in terms of its consequences, and not to the association between stimuli and reflex behaviors exist as in classical conditioning. Operant conditioning principles were developed by BF Skinner, who was influenced by the investigations of Pavlov and Edward L. Thorndike. (Domjan, 2005)

In operant conditioning behavior spontaneously emitted and its consequences determine learning. Children pleasant consequences tend to strengthen a behavior. In contrast, unpleasant consequences tend to weaken a behavior contingent on it. A clear example of learning by operant conditioning occurs in dogs that pull on the leash when out walking. The dog pulls the leash and its owner is, until they get to where the dog wants to go. Then, the behavior (inappropriately) to pull the belt is strengthened because the dog gets what he wanted. By the same process of learning, but with negative consequences, some children learn not to touch the stove when hot. When you touch the stove burned hand. Then, the behavior of touching the stove when it is turned away has unpleasant consequences.

Reinforcement

It is an addition in increasing the frequency of behavior, or retirement of a stimulus or artifact as a result of any conduct. For example, your dog sits and gives him food when he does. Your dog will feel more and more often because the food has functioned as reinforcement. This is called positive reinforcement because the addition of a positive result (food) increases the frequency of behavior (sit).

Now imagine that your dog ...