Operant Conditioning Paper Psy 390
Operant Conditioning � PAGE �1�
RUNNING HEAD: OPERANT CONDITIONING
Operant Conditioning Paper
Shayolonda Herron
Learning and Cognition / PSY 390
April 26, 2010
Dr. Christa Lynch
�
Operant Conditioning Paper
Operant conditioning was first introduced by B.F. Skinner through his work with respondent behavior and operant behavior. Along with these two types of behavior, Skinner suggested two types of conditioning related to learning: type S, sometimes referred to as respondent conditioning and similar to classical conditioning, and type R, also called operant conditioning. Operant conditioning is an approach to learning that occurs through reward and punishment by creating a connection between a specific behavior and a consequence for …show more content…
In this type of learning, the focus is on behavior and its positive or negative significance - the owner of the behavior must respond in a manner that produces the reinforcing stimulus. Contingent reinforcement exemplifies this process because the reinforcer is dependent upon certain responses from the organism whose behavior is being modified. Other major concepts of Skinners Theory of Operant Conditioning include: the Skinner box, cumulative recording, shaping (including differential reinforcement and successive approximation), extinction, spontaneous recovery, secondary reinforcement, generalized reinforcers, chaining, and positive or negative reinforcers …show more content…
Most individuals believe positive reinforcement is more effective because an individual is more likely to repeat a behavior if there is a reward involved. For example: a child who completes his or her chores and receives an allowance is likely to continue the behavior knowing the reward (the allowance) will be the result. On the other hand, negative reinforcement has different types of rewards and can also be effective. For example: if a child is taken to the grocery store and does not want to be there, screaming and crying (which results in embarrassing the parents) can lead to the removal of the child from the store, resulting in rewarding the child (by allowing them to leave and obtain his or her desired results) for their negative
RUNNING HEAD: OPERANT CONDITIONING
Operant Conditioning Paper
Shayolonda Herron
Learning and Cognition / PSY 390
April 26, 2010
Dr. Christa Lynch
�
Operant Conditioning Paper
Operant conditioning was first introduced by B.F. Skinner through his work with respondent behavior and operant behavior. Along with these two types of behavior, Skinner suggested two types of conditioning related to learning: type S, sometimes referred to as respondent conditioning and similar to classical conditioning, and type R, also called operant conditioning. Operant conditioning is an approach to learning that occurs through reward and punishment by creating a connection between a specific behavior and a consequence for …show more content…
In this type of learning, the focus is on behavior and its positive or negative significance - the owner of the behavior must respond in a manner that produces the reinforcing stimulus. Contingent reinforcement exemplifies this process because the reinforcer is dependent upon certain responses from the organism whose behavior is being modified. Other major concepts of Skinners Theory of Operant Conditioning include: the Skinner box, cumulative recording, shaping (including differential reinforcement and successive approximation), extinction, spontaneous recovery, secondary reinforcement, generalized reinforcers, chaining, and positive or negative reinforcers …show more content…
Most individuals believe positive reinforcement is more effective because an individual is more likely to repeat a behavior if there is a reward involved. For example: a child who completes his or her chores and receives an allowance is likely to continue the behavior knowing the reward (the allowance) will be the result. On the other hand, negative reinforcement has different types of rewards and can also be effective. For example: if a child is taken to the grocery store and does not want to be there, screaming and crying (which results in embarrassing the parents) can lead to the removal of the child from the store, resulting in rewarding the child (by allowing them to leave and obtain his or her desired results) for their negative