Operant Conditioning

-Nikunj Barnwal
 Definition & Understanding

• Operant behavior operates on the

environment.
• Operant conditioning is the use of
consequences to modify the
occurrence and form of behavior.
 Core tools of operant
conditioning
• Reinforcement

• Punishment
(Both are either positive or negative consequences.)

• Extinction
(no change in consequences)
•
Reinforcement is a consequence that
•
causes a behavior to occur with
•
greater frequency.
 Punishment is a consequence that
causes a behavior to occur with less
frequency.
 Extinction is the lack of any
consequence following a behavior.
 Four contexts of
operant conditioning:
• Positive Reinforcement
• Negative Reinforcement

• Positive Punishment
• Negative Punishment
 Positive Reinforcment

When a behavior is followed by a

favorable stimulus (commonly seen as
pleasant) that increases the frequency
of that behavior.
Negative Reinforcement

When a behavior (response) is followed

by the removal of an aversive stimulus
(commonly seen as unpleasant) thereby
increasing that behavior's frequency.
 Positive Punishment
(How can a punishment be positive???)

Occurs when a behavior (response) is

followed by an aversive stimulus
thereby decreasing that behavior's
frequency
 Negative Punishment

Occurs when a behavior (response) is

followed by the removal of a favorable
stimulus thereby decreasing that
behavior's frequency
 Extinction

occurs when a behavior (response) that

had previously been reinforced is no
longer effective.
 Stimulus Frequency of behavior

+R Given Increases
-R Taken away Increases

+P Given Decreases

-P Taken away Decreases

E -- Increases/Decreases