Operant Conditioning

Question 1

what is the link in operant conditioning?

Answer 1

link between a behaviour and an event

BUT

the behaviour is an act and the event is the consequence of the behaviour

Question 2

what is the skinner box?

Answer 2

an operant chamber where skinner (1948) carried out research

the box contained food pellets that could be released as reinforcers when the animals learned to do something (e.g operate a lever). some chamber contained electrified floors to punish behaviours. he used to box for reinforcement and punishment to condition certain behaviours

Question 3

what is reinforcement and the types?

Answer 3

when an event following a behaviour makes its repetition more likely

positive reinforcement (something pleasant)

negative reinforcement (something unpleasant is removed)

Question 4

primary reinforcement?

Answer 4

rewarding as they have biological significance (e.g food, shelter, sex)

Question 5

secondary reinforcement?

Answer 5

reinforcers that are powerful as they are associated with primary reinforcers (e.g. money -> food, impressive job-> sexually attractive)

Question 6

what is punishment and the two types?

Answer 6

when an event following a behaviour makes its repetition less likely

positive punishment- something unpleasant added

negative punishment- something pleasant taken away

Question 7

difference between deliberate and natural punishers?

Answer 7

some deliberately introduced (prison sentence to deprive freedom)

spme natural (touch something hot get burned-> pain/wound)

Question 8

strength of operant conditioning + explain?

Answer 8

support from many human and animal studies:

S-kinner and others have completed hundreds of lab experiments showing operant conditioning in animals => reliability (consistent findings about the ability to modify behaviour with reinforcement and punishment)

Chase et al 2015 = modern brain studies have revealed brain systems that relate to reinforcement in humans => scientific

[firm evidence base for the existence of operant conditioning in human and animal learning]

Question 9

weakness of operant conditioning + explain?

Answer 9

incomplete explanation:
-Can’t explain all behaviours
e.g. can’t account for learning of new behaviours which the animal has never performed before
-Only explains how existing behaviours are strengthened or weakened, not how they originate

Question 10

application of operant conditioning + explain?

Answer 10

applied to education and childcare

used in schools, nurseries etc

giving a child a star for good work encourages them to repeat their effort. Parents use star sheets to reinforce desirable behaviour.

[extensive real world application on top of theoretical interest]