Operant Conditioning

Question 1

Positive reinforcement

Answer 1

Rewards the desired behaviour by adding something pleasurable e.g. food

Question 2

Negative reinforcement

Answer 2

Rewards desired behaviour by removing something unpleasant e.g. pain or distress

Question 3

Primary Reinforcement

Answer 3

The reward is something we want naturally e.g. food, sleep

Question 4

Secondary Reinforcement

Answer 4

The reward is something we have learnt to value e.g. money

Question 5

Operant Conditioning Eval.

2 Strengths 2 Weakness

Answer 5

Strengths
Lots of supporting research e.g. Skinner’s Box, rat could press the lever to receive food. Lab Experiment and every step is observable

Strong Applications for therapy, especially more voluntary ones. e.g. Systematic Desensitisation offers rewards for desired behaviour (positive reinforcement) when dealing w phobias. Also in token economy programmes in prisons

Weaknesses
Most supporting research is on rats and pigeons, isn’t so generalisable to animals

Doesnt take account of intrinsic motivation. Shows extrinsic motivation. e.g. at work, we may work because we enjoy it rather than purely for monetary reward

Question 6

Token Economy Programme

Answer 6

Uses positive reinforcement to encourage desired behaviour

e.g. When prisoners behave well they are offered a token which can be exchanged for family visits etc.