Operant Conditioning

Chapter 5
Learning
American Learning/Operant Conditioning

American Learning believes that the consequence of a response determines whether it will be repeated or not. Actions that bring rewards tend to re-occur. Those that bring punishment tend to decrease, at least in the face of the punisher.

American = emit

4 possible consequences to a response

A. Positive reinforcement: if the result of a response is pleasurable then the response will increase in frequency.
B. Negative reinforcement: sometimes confused with punishment, only punishment is meant to decrease a behavior. (it actually increases behavior) If the result of the response takes away something unpleasant then the response will increase in frequency. (escape behavior. Getting into trouble over and over and then get out of it instead of avoiding behavior in the first place. Helps you escape from something bad.
C. Avoidance: If the result of the response postpones or avoids something unpleasant then the response will increase in frequency.
D. Punishment (most misused): If the result of a response is unpleasant then the response will decrease in frequency. (if using punishment, it must be swift.) Most punishment is not effective. Most effective punishment procedures:
1. Apply it early in the behavioral sequence.
2. Make the punishment intense, make it fit the crime.
3. Provide an alternate unpunished response.