operant conditioning

Question 1

operant conditioning - P1, A01

Answer 1

Operant conditioning explains how we acquire behaviour through the consequences of an action. When an antecedent triggers a behaviour which is reinforced, the tends to be repeated but when an antecedent triggers a behaviour which is punished is the behaviour tends not to be repeated.

Question 2

strength of operant conditioning - P1, A03

Answer 2

One strength of using operant conditioning as a theory for behaviour is that Skinner was able to show evidence for this whilst training rats to press a lever at the sight of a light in a Skinner box.
If the rat pressed the level when the light blinked, the rat would receive a food pellet and would be more likely to press the lever again than a rat who received an electric shock for lever pressing.
Therefore, this means that there is animal research to support the theory that we learn through consequence.

Question 3

positive and negative reinforcement - P2, A01

Answer 3

Operant conditioning explains that positive and negative reinforcement encourage behaviour acquisition e.g. if a behaviour receives a nice treat or a nasty consequence can be avoided if a behaviour is shown, the behaviour is likely to be repeated. Punishment prohibits a behaviour, positive punishment is when a nasty consequence is received and negative punishment is when the promise of a nice outcome is not achieved for a behaviour.

Question 4

strength, principles of positive and negative reinforcement can be used for behaviour modification - P2, A03

Answer 4

One strength of using operant conditioning as a theory for behaviour is that these principles of learning can be used to shape desirable behaviour.
Behaviour shaping/modification can be used to train animals and humans to engage in complex behaviour through the selective reward of successive approximation for behaviour.
Behaviour shaping has been used on anorexic patients by rewarding eating with a treat, and withholding privileges unless a patients eats.
Therefore, this means that complex novel behaviour can be learned through operant conditioning.

Question 5

COUNTER ARGUMENT TO strength, principles of positive and negative reinforcement can be used for behaviour modification - P2, A03

Answer 5

However, it can be argued that OC can be used as a form of social control, by deliberately manipulating behaviour that is seen as more desirable.
It also fails to account for observational learning, and the fact that Bandura demonstrated how children model aggression through copying an aggressive adult role model.
Therefore, whilst there are useful practical applications for OC, it can be misused as a theory to control others behaviour and fails to account for other ways we learn.

Question 6

primary and secondary reinforcers - P3, A01

Answer 6

Operant conditioning explains that both primary and secondary reinforcers can be used to condition behaviour.
Primary reinforcers satisfy a basic human need, such as food, and secondary reinforcers act as tokens having no intrinsic value whilst can be saved and exchanged for one.

Question 7

weakness of primary and secondary reinforcers - P3, A03

Answer 7

One weakness of using operant conditioning as a theory for behaviour is that token economy systems can be subject to abuse.
In prisons for example, the tokens can be selectively given to favoured inmates, and can even be used as a form of black market contraband between inmates. This means that systems created by this theory can be open to misuse.

Question 8

partial schedules of reinforcement - P4, A01

Answer 8

Operant conditioning explains that partial schedules of reinforcement can yield quicker and learning which is more resistant to extinction than continuous reinforcement.
Fixed and variable, interval and ratio schedules reward selectively according to time lapse or number of responses shown.