Key Concept 2: Operant Conditioning

Question 1

What is Operant Conditioning?

Answer 1

Learning through reinforcement, the consequences of our actions.

Question 2

Positive reinforcement

Answer 2

When behaviours are rewarded, they are likely to be repeated. This reward could be tangible (e.g. food, money, etc) or intangible (e.g. smile, nice comments, etc).

Question 3

Negative reinforcement

Answer 3

Encourages a behaviour to be repeated by taking away a negative feeling.

Question 4

Punishment

Answer 4

Giving something unpleasant as a consequence of someone’s action (e.g. slap in the face) which discourages them from repeating a behaviour again.

Question 5

Skinner

Answer 5

This was shown by Skinner, who encouraged a rat to press a lever by rewarding it with food (positive reinforcement) and discouraged it from standing in certain areas of the box by giving it electric shocks (punishment). Skinner also removed the electric shocks when the rat moved to the area of the box he wanted him in (negative reinforcement).