
Using operant conditioning techniques is a classic method of modifying the behavior of children and animals and this type of conditioning behavior modification can typically be seen in everyday life on a regular basis. Children are encouraged to complete various tasks via a process of reward and/or punishment.
What is a real life example of operant conditioning?
Examples of Positive Reinforcement
- Homework Completion. A student tends to complete his/her homework daily; because he/she knows that he/she will be rewarded with a candy (action) or praise (behavior).
- Cleaning Room. A child may learn to clean his/her room regularly; because he/she will be rewarded with extra TV hours every time he/she cleans up.
- Incentives and Bonuses. ...
What is operant conditioning and how does it work?
What is operant conditioning and how does it work? Operant conditioning is a way of learning that is made possible using punishments and rewards for behaviour. In simpler words, operant conditioning allows humans to create an association between a behaviour and its consequence.
What are some examples of classical conditioning in everyday life?
What are some examples of classical conditioning in everyday life?
- Smartphone Tones and Vibes. If you’ve ever been in a public area and heard a familiar notification chime, this classical conditioning example will certainly ring true for you.
- Celebrities in Advertising.
- Restaurant Aromas.
- Fear of Dogs.
- A Good Report Card.
- Experiences in Food Poisoning.
- Excited for Recess.
- Exam Anxiety.
What does the Bible say about operant conditioning?
Scriptures In Bible Where The Principles Of Operant Conditioning Operant conditioning forms the premise that behaviours are shaped by their consequences. It is fundamentally learned behaviour, formulated by responses to positive or negative motivations; no behaviour is without consequence, enjoyable or bad.

What is the significance of operant conditioning in everyday life?
It is used to extinguish maladaptive behaviour and establish socially adaptive behaviour. It has also been used to help people change their bad habits of smoking, excessive eating, drinking of alcohol, drugs etc. It can be used to make a person achieve greater self-control.
What are some examples of operant conditioning in the classroom?
Positive punishment This is a classic operant conditioning example in the classroom. Operant conditioning examples in the classroom also include a teacher scolding a student publicly for repeating mistakes. It's a positive punishment for coming late to class repeatedly or being too talkative.
How is operant conditioning applied at school?
Light punishment or withholding of praise can function as operant conditioning in education. When the teacher punishes negative behavior, other students will want to avoid that punishment, and so they will be less likely to perform that behavior.
Which is the best example of operant conditioning?
Positive reinforcement describes the best known examples of operant conditioning: receiving a reward for acting in a certain way. Many people train their pets with positive reinforcement.
What is Operant Conditioning?
Operant conditioning is different to classical conditioning as described by Pavlov in that a desirable behaviour is reinforced and an undesirable behaviour, punished. It is a highly specialised form of learning known as instrumental learning and is used in many contexts including good parenting and even training animals.
Who developed operant conditioning?
While the technique of operant conditioning is often attributed to B.F.Skinner, he developed his work from original studies by Jerzy Kornosky and Edward Thorndike. Thorndike studied many animals including cats which he locked in puzzle boxes. On the first attempt it took them a good while to work out how to escape.
What are the antecedents of behavior?
They may include: The actions of others : being told off, bullying or even overstimulation in the environment. The physical state of the person : hungry, tired, medicated (or not)
What animals are able to associate their random pressing of the switch with either pleasant reinforces (food) or painful punishment
Animals from rats to pigeons quickly learned to associate their random pressing of the switch with either pleasant reinforces (food) or painful punishments (shocks) depending whether the light was lit when they pressed. This approach led to the ABC model of behaviour management.
Who developed the theory of operant conditioning?
In the early 1900s, psychologist B.F. Skinner built on the concepts of reinforcer and punisher to create the theory of operant conditioning. Skinner believed that Pavlovian conditioning was far too simple to explain complex human behavior thoroughly.
What is Skinner's operant conditioning paradigm?
In Skinner’s operant conditioning paradigm, behavior can be manipulated when it is followed by reinforcement or punishment.
What is Pavlovian conditioning?
Pavlovian conditioning became the foundation of Behaviorism, a leading field within the study of psychology at the time. Behaviorists believe that behavior is a response to external stimuli, and humans only learn by association, not by thoughts, feelings, or inner mental events.
What is instrumental conditioning?
Operant Conditioning in Psychology (With Examples) Operant conditioning, also known as instrumental conditioning, is a learning process in which behavior is modified using rewards or punishments. By repeatedly pairing the desired behavior with a consequence, an association is formed to create new learning.
When did classical conditioning start?
2. Russian physiologist Ivan Pavlov first experimented with classical conditioning in the late 1800s.
Who came up with the idea of instrumental conditioning?
Later, psychologist Edward Thorndike came up with the concept of instrumental conditioning when he observed the impact of reinforcement in puzzle box experiments with cats trying to escape. He called this process “trial-and-error” learning.
Who was the first person to use classical conditioning?
Russian physiologist Ivan Pavlov first experimented with classical conditioning in the late 1800s. He noticed that his dogs salivated whenever he entered the room to feed them. In his experiments, Pavlov rang a bell every time he fed his dogs.
What is operant conditioning?
Operant conditioning, sometimes referred to as instrumental conditioning, is a method of learning that employs rewards and punishments for behavior. Through operant conditioning, an association is made between a behavior and a consequence (whether negative or positive) for that behavior. 1 .
Who first described Operant Conditioning?
Operant conditioning was first described by behaviorist B.F. Skinner, which is why you may occasionally hear it referred to as Skinnerian conditioning. 1 As a behaviorist, Skinner believed that it was not really necessary to look at internal thoughts and motivations in order to explain behavior.
How does reinforcement affect learning?
Reinforcement is not necessarily a straightforward process, and there are a number of factors that can influence how quickly and how well new things are learned. Skinner found that when and how often behaviors were reinforced played a role in the speed and strength of acquisition. In other words, the timing and frequency of reinforcement influenced how new behaviors were learned and how old behaviors were modified.
What is reinforcement in operation conditioning?
Reinforcement in Operant Conditioning. Reinforcement is any event that strengthens or increases the behavior it follows. There are two kinds of reinforcers. In both of these cases of reinforcement, the behavior increases. Positive reinforcers are favorable events or outcomes that are presented after the behavior.
What was Skinner's interest in behavior?
Early behaviorists focused their interests on associative learning. Skinner was more interested in how the consequences of people's actions influenced their behavior . Skinner used the term operant to refer to any "active behavior that operates upon the environment to generate consequences.".
What is positive reinforcement?
Positive reinforcers are favorable events or outcomes that are presented after the behavior. In positive reinforcement situations, a response or behavior is strengthened by the addition of praise or a direct reward. If you do a good job at work and your manager gives you a bonus, that bonus is a positive reinforcer.
What are respondent behaviors?
Respondent behaviors are those that occur automatically and reflexively, such as pulling your hand back from a hot stove or jerking your leg when the doctor taps on your knee . You don't have to learn these behaviors. They simply occur automatically and involuntarily.
What is operant conditioning?
In simpler words, operant conditioning allows humans to create an association between a behaviour and its consequence. Skinner believed that humans should look at observable, external causes behind human behaviour instead of only focusing on internal motivations.
What is classical conditioning?
This refers to a learning method that occurs via associations between a naturally occurring stimulus and environmental stimulus to generate a learned response.
Which type of response neither increases or decreases the chances of behavior being repeated?
Neutral operant: This kind of response neither increases or decreases the chances of behavior being repeated. Punishers: This kind of response decreases the chances of behavior being repeated. This is why punishments are used to weaken behavior.
Do children need operant conditioning?
While most children are not eager to chores, giving them an incentive or allowance may encourage them to do so. Most parents unintentionally use operant conditioning while raising kids. After all, it’s one of the most foolproof ways to gain satisfactory results.

Classical Conditioning as The Foundation of Behaviorism
Law of Effect & Operant Conditioning
- Later, psychologist Edward Thorndike came up with the concept of instrumental conditioningwhen he observed the impact of reinforcement in puzzle box experiments with cats trying to escape. He called this process “trial-and-error” learning. Thorndike proposed the Law of Effect3, which stated that if in the presence of a stimulus, a response was followed by a satisfyi…
Operant Conditioning
- To study operant conditioning, BF Skinner made a chamber, called the Skinner Box, and put a small animal inside. In the experiments, each time the animal pressed a lever or a bar, it received food or water as reinforcement4. Reinforcement increases target behavior, while punishment decreases it. Through his experiments, Skinner distinguished two ...
Schedules of Reinforcement Is A Key Component
- Behavior modification using reinforcers and punishers requires a continuous application to remain effective. Once the reinforcement or punishment stops, the learned behaviorgradually weakens and finally disappears in a process called extinction. What is surprising, even to Skinner, is that frequency and pattern of reinforcer applications can affect how fast reinforcement work…
Final Thoughts on Operant Conditioning
- Operant conditioning is something we often see around us. Sometimes we do it intentionally but sometimes not. Recognizing the pros and cons of this type of behavior modification can help us avoid pitfalls and reach the best results.