operant conditioning
Consequence-based learning
Operant conditioning is a learning process where behavior is shaped by its consequences—rewards increase a behavior's frequency, punishments decrease it.
A rat learns to press a lever for food; a child learns that tantrums yield attention.
The term comes from behaviorist psychology, contrasting with classical conditioning, which pairs stimuli rather than actions with outcomes.
Giving something its form
- extinctionComplete vanishing of a species
- generalizationDeriving principles from examples
- discriminationUnjust differential treatment
- response rateProportion who answer
baseline · acquisition · maintenance · fading · chaining · prompting · antecedent · consequence
Altering conduct through reinforcement
- behavioral therapyPsychotherapy targeting observable actions
- token economyRewards exchanged for privileges
- biofeedbackTraining via physiological monitoring
- self-managementGoverning oneself independently
classroom management · animal training · clicker training · addiction treatment
Strengthening behavior through rewards
- negative reinforcementLearning via relief provision
- rewardPayment for service
- incentiveReward encouraging action
- reinforcerConsequence increasing behavior
Behaviorist psychologist, conditioning researcher
- Skinner boxBehavioral research enclosure
- contingenciesPossible future events
Temporary halt in activity
- overcorrectionExcessive corrective action
- suppressionForcible prevention or concealment
- escapeFlight from captivity
- avoidanceDeliberate keeping away
shaping
Giving something its form
- extinctionComplete vanishing of a species
- generalizationDeriving principles from examples
- discriminationUnjust differential treatment
response rate · baseline · acquisition · maintenance · fading · chaining · prompting · antecedent · consequence · contingency
behavior modification
Altering conduct through reinforcement
- behavioral therapyPsychotherapy targeting observable actions
- token economyRewards exchanged for privileges
- biofeedbackTraining via physiological monitoring
self-management · classroom management · animal training · clicker training · addiction treatment
positive reinforcement
Strengthening behavior through rewards
- negative reinforcementLearning via relief provision
- rewardPayment for service
- incentiveReward encouraging action
reinforcer · token economy · strengthening · feedback · motivation
B.F. Skinner
Behaviorist psychologist, conditioning researcher
- Skinner boxBehavioral research enclosure
- contingenciesPossible future events
time-out
Temporary halt in activity
- overcorrectionExcessive corrective action
- suppressionForcible prevention or concealment
- escapeFlight from captivity
scalloping
Cutting curved edge patterns
- animal behavioranimal behavior, instincts, learned behavior, social behavior, territorial behavior
- psychologypsychology, psychologist, therapist, psychiatrist, clinical psychology
- rewardreward, reinforcement, incentive, gratification, pleasure
- Psychology HistoryFreud, Sigmund Freud, Carl Jung, Jung, William James
- Psychology ResearchStanford prison experiment, Pavlov's dogs, marshmallow test, Skinner box, Rorschach test
- behavioral testscognitive tests, Skinner box, puzzle box, startle response, learned helplessness
operant conditioningclassical conditioning
Learned stimulus-response association
Pavlovian conditioning · involuntary response · habituation · sensitization · conditioned reflex
operant conditioningpsychoanalysis
Treatment via unconscious exploration
cognitive therapy · talk therapy · introspection · self-reflection · free association
condition, operate, operation, conditioned, conditioning, conditional, unconditioned, operant