Operant and Averse Conditioning

Operant and Averse Conditioning

Introduction

A therapist might use both therapies of operant conditioning and the averse conditioning to help a client overcome a habit of smoking. It is a long process depending on the client and if the client has it in their mind to stop smoking.

Discussion

The concept of operant conditioning was introduced by B. F. Skinner and this is the reason that we sometimes get to hear it referred to as Skinnerian conditioning. The behaviorist, Skinner had this belief that we cannot use internal thoughts and motivation to explain and understand behavior. Instead we should look at the external causes of behavior.

To understand operant conditioning, we can say that there are four possible consequences to any behavior that we show. Therefore we always behave accordingly. The four possible consequences to any behavior are, something good will be given to us or initiate, something good can be taken away from us or simply end, something bad can be given to us or can be initiated, something bad can be taken away from us or can simply end.

Obviously, whenever we act or behave in a certain manner, we always want our outcomes to be good and favorable. So we most often try to behave accordingly. We witness a number of examples of operant conditioning all around us in our daily lives. Take for example the case of children, who would willingly complete their home works on time so that they could get rewards from their teachers or their parents or employees, who meet their deadlines to receive, praise, recognition and promotions from their authorities and colleagues.

In these examples, we see that the promise and the expectation of rewards have contributed in increasing the behaviors. Similarly, operant conditioning can also be used to decrease behaviors. Removing of any unfavorable outcomes or using punishments can help in decreasing or ending any unfavorable behavior. For example, children in a class room can be told that they will not get any recess privileges if they continue to make noise. This potential for punishment or an unfavorable consequence can result in their behaving nicely and as required.

If we want operant conditioning to work, then the punishments and rewards must be reliable. If we punish someone who is smoking for a specific period of time or if we reward the person for not smoking just occasionally, the operant conditioning will take a longer period of time to work.

According to skinner, when a particular behavior is reinforced, it tends to be repeated and strengthened and when a particular behavior is not reinforced, it weakens and tends to die out.

The therapist, knowing operant conditioning techniques take some time may begin this slow process by discussing what caused the client to start smoking in the first place. She/he will be non-judgmental in the way they discuss with the client by asking open ended questions like “tell me about the first time you tried a cigarette”. The therapist wants to get the client to open up to them and ...