Operant conditioning is a type of learning where a voluntary behavior grows stronger or weaker depending on the consequences that follow it. Pioneered by B.F. Skinner, this approach says that we learn to operate on our environment to produce outcomes we want and avoid the ones we don’t. At its heart, the idea is simple: reinforcements increase behaviors, and punishments decrease them.
Entrance exams reliably test the difference between negative reinforcement and punishment, and this is where students constantly slip up, so lock this in: negative reinforcement *increases* behavior, while punishment *decreases* it. You should also be ready to spot real-world examples of the four partial reinforcement schedules, and remember that variable-ratio schedules (think gambling) produce the highest response rates and the strongest resistance to extinction. Expect a comparison question too: operant conditioning involves voluntary behavior shaped by consequences, while classical conditioning involves involuntary responses built on stimulus association.
Part of Basic Psychology, module “Learning & Conditioning”. Sign in (free) to read the full notes, flashcards and the lesson quiz.