Operant conditioning is a learning process where the consequences of a response influence its future occurrence, with reinforcement increasing behavior and punishment decreasing it. Skinner's experiments using a 'Skinner box' demonstrated both positive and negative reinforcement, where rats learned to press a lever for food or to avoid electric shocks. The findings highlight the role of environmental manipulation in predicting and controlling behavior.

1. 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

2. Skinners experiments with rats
The Skinner Box

3. 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
• .

4. 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