Operant Conditioning • Preamble: Skinner believed that we

both predict & control behaviour. • Thus by manipulating the

environment, you can manipulate behaviour

• Defined as: A learning process in which the consequences which follow a response determine whether the behaviour will be repeated

• Behaviour will likely be repeated which has reinforced

• And tend not to be repeated with punishment

Skinners experiments with rats The Skinner Box

Skinner Box – Postive Reinforcement• Initially behaviour was random, but can inadvertently tripped lever

and was rewarded with a food pellet• The rat didn’t take long to learn that the lever represented a means

of obtaining the reinforcer• The consequence of receiving food (a desirable stimulus) for lever

pressing ensured that it would repeat the action• Skinner was initially using a continuous reinforcement schedule• .

Skinner Box: Negative Reinforcement• Rat was subjected to unpleasant

electric current• Accidental lever pressing – switched

off electric current• The consequence of escaping the

electric current (an aversive stimulus) ensured that it would repeat the action (of lever pressing)

• Subsequently: A light would be switched on, just prior to electric current

• Thus lever pressing after the light was negatively reinforced