LNG - Operant Conditioning Lesson

Learning Targets:

  • Predict the effects of operant conditioning.
  • Predict how practice, schedules of reinforcement, other aspects of reinforcement, and motivation will influence the quality of learning.

AP psychology course and exam description, effective fall 2020. (n.d.). https://apcentral.collegeboard.org/media/pdf/ap-psychology-course-and-exam-description.pdf

Operant Conditioning

Diagram of a Puzzle Box"Mom, I'll do it later!" I bet you have been guilty of this response before when prompted to clean your room. But when do you finally give in and do so? Once the nagging continues and continues and you can't take it anymore!! Well, the joke is on you! Mom used negative reinforcement to get you to do your chores! Sneaky lady, huh? As you can infer, operant conditioning differs from classical conditioning because learning associations occur between behavior and resulting events. Intrigued? Read on to find out more!

Operant conditioning, unlike classical conditioning (which -- remember -- elicits automatic responses), describes behaviors that are nonreflexive or voluntary. Those actions cannot be explained by classical conditioning principles. In operant conditioning, behavior is strengthened if it is followed by reinforcement, and it is weakened if followed by punishment.

The Law of Effect

Edward Thorndike was the first psychologist to investigate how voluntary behaviors were influenced by consequences. He wanted to find out whether animals, like humans, use problem-solving techniques. In a series of experiments, he placed hungry cats in cages he called "puzzle boxes". Food was placed outside the box and the cat had to perform a series of tasks such as pulling hoops or stepping on levers to free themselves of the boxes and reach the food. Once they were out, they were rewarded with a meal.

Thorndike determined that learning is a result of consequences. If a behavior is rewarded, it is strengthened. If the consequence is unpleasant, the behavior is weakened. He called this the law of effect. His findings have been applied in educational settings and he has authored many books on educational psychology.

 

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