Types of Operant Conditioning

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Positive reinforcement | Negative reinforcement | Punishment | Extinction | So what?

There are four types of operant conditioning by which behavior may be changed. The following table summarizes these and the paragraphs beyond explain further.

Positive reinforcement

Positive reinforcement occurs when a behavior is strengthened as a result of receiving a positive condition. The basic structure is as follows:

Do X ==> Y happens ==> Feel good ==> Do X more

Example

A person lifts a finger. The dog eventually sits. The dog gets fed. In time, even beginning to lift a finger leads to the dog sitting.

A child screams. Its parents pay it lots of attention, which is pleasant. The child screams more often.

Negative reinforcement

Negative reinforcement happens when a behavior is strengthened as a result of stopping or avoiding a negative condition. The basic structure is as follows:

Z happens ==> Feel bad ==> Do X ==> Feel better ==> Do X more

Example

A dog is thirsty and goes outside where it finds a bowl of water. Whenever it is thirsty in future, it goes outside.

A person goes out in winter gets cold. They put on a coat and no longer feel warm. Next time they put on a coat when it seems cold.

Punishment

Punishment works when a behavior is weakened as a result of experiencing a negative condition. The basic structure is as follows:

Do X ==> Z happens ==> Feel bad ==> Do X less

Example

A cow grazes an electric fence. It feels discomfort. It learns not to go near the fence.

A child hits a sibling. It is made to stand in a corner. It hits siblings less in the future.

Extinction

Extinction occurs when a behavior is weakened as a result of not experiencing an expected positive condition or a negative condition is stopped.

Y expected ==> Anticipate feeling good ==> Do X ==> Y does not happen ==> Feel bad ==> Do X less

Z happens ==> Feel bad ==> Do X ==> Z does not happen ==> Feel better ==> Do X less

Example

A dog sniffs around, looking for food and finds none in the outhouse. It does not look for food in the outhouse next time.

A child screams and is ignored. They scream less in the future.

See also

Extinction