B.F. Skinner developed the theory of operant conditioning based on Thorndike's law of effect. Operant conditioning uses reinforcement and punishment to modify behavior. Reinforcement strengthens behaviors by providing rewards, while punishment weakens behaviors by introducing unpleasant consequences to reduce their likelihood in the future. Behavioral counselors apply techniques like reinforcement schedules, shaping, chaining, and generalization to help clients achieve therapeutic goals by changing their behaviors.

1. B F SKINNERS BEHAVIORAL APPROACH
SUBMITTED BY
ARCHANA.J
ARCHANA P C
SWATHY.M.A

2. PROCESS OF OPERANT CONDITIONING
SKINNER IS REGARDED AS THE FATHER OF OPERANT
CONDITIONING, BUT HIS WORK WAS BASED ON THORNDIKE’S
(1905) LAW OF EFFECT. SKINNER INTRODUCED A NEW TERM
INTO THE LAW OF EFFECT - REINFORCEMENT.

5. REINFORCEMENT
• STIMULUS WHICH STRENGTHENS OR INCREASES THE PROBABILITY OF A SPECIFIC
RESPONSE.
• ​F​OR EXAMPLE, IF YOU WANT YOUR DOG TO SIT ON COMMAND, YOU MAY GIVE HIM
A TREAT EVERY TIME HE SITS FOR YOU.

6. PUNISHMENT
• PUNISHMENT IS DEFINED AS THE OPPOSITE OF REINFORCEMENT
SINCE IT IS DESIGNED TO WEAKEN OR ELIMINATE A RESPONSE
RATHER THAN INCREASE IT.
• IT IS AN AVERSIVE EVENT THAT DECREASES THE BEHAVIOR THAT IT
FOLLOWS

7. GOALS OF COUNSELLOR
THE GOAL OF BEHAVIORISTS COUNSELORS LIKE OTHER THEORIES IS TO IMPROVE THE LIFE OF
THE CLIENT THROUGH BETTER ADJUSTMENTS TO LIFE AND TO ACHIEVE PERSONAL GOALS
PROFESSIONALLY AND PERSONALLY .
FOUR STEPS IN DEVELOPING THERAPEUTIC GOALS ARE :
1. DEFINE THE PROBLEM CONCRETELY SPECIFYING WHEN, WHERE, HOW AND WITH WHOM THE
PROBLEM EXISTS.
2. TAKE A DEVELOPMENTAL HISTORY OF THE PROBLEM ELICITING CONDITIONS
SURROUNDING THE BEGINNING OF THE PROBLEM AND WHAT SOLUTIONS THE CLIENT HAS
TRIED IN THE PAST.
3. ESTABLISH SPECIFIC SUB GOALS IN SMALL INCREMENTAL STEPS TOWARD THE FINAL
GOAL.
4. DETERMINE THE BEST BEHAVIORAL METHOD TO BE USED HELP THE CLIENT CHANGE.

8. ROLE OF THE COUNSELOR
A. ROLES OF THE BEHAVIORAL COUNSELOR ARE VARIES AND INCLUDE BEING A CONSULTANT, A
REINFORCER, AND A FACILITATOR
B. THE COUNSELLOR IS ACTIVE AND MAY SUPERVISE OTHER PEOPLE IN THE CLIENT’S
ENVIRONMENT TO ACHIEVE THE GOALS OF THERAPY
C. COUNSELORS USING SOCIAL LEARNING MAY MODEL THE DESIRED BEHAVIOR, WHILE
RESPONDENT AND OPERANT CONDITIONING COUNSELORS ARE MORE DIRECTIVE AND
PRESCRIPTIVE IN THEIR APPROACH TO THE THERAPY GOALS
D. USE OF TESTS AND DIAGNOSIS VARIED GREATLY AMONG BEHAVIORAL COUNSELORS

9. TECHNIQUES
REINFORCEMENT
IT INCREASE THE DESIRED BEHAVIORS, WHEN THEY FOLLOW THE BEHAVIOR.
IT CAN BE NEGATIVE OR POSITIVE.
POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT ARE THOSE THAT ARE DESIRED BY THE CLIENTT,WHILE NEGATIVE
REINFORCEMENT ARE CONTINGENCIES TO BE AVOIDED.
PRIMARY REINFORCEMENT ARE THOSE THAT ARE INTRINSICALLY;; WHILE SECONDARY
REINFORCEMENT ARE TOKENS THAT ACQUIRE THEIR VALUE BY BEING ASSOCIATED WITH A
PRIMARY REINFORCER .

10. SCHEDULES OF REINFORCEMENT
I. FIXED-RATIO MEANS THAT THE REINFORCER IS DELIVERED AFTER
A SET NUMBER OF RESPONSES .
II. FIXED-INTERVAL MEANS THAT THE REINFORCER IS DELIVERED
AFTER A SET TIME LAPSES .
III. VARIABLE-RATION MEANS THAT THE REINFORCER IS DELIVERED
AFTER VARYING NUMBERS OF RESPONSES
IV. A VARIABLE-INTERVAL MEANS THAT THE REINFORCER IS
DELIVERED AT VARYING TIME INTERVALS

11. SHAPING
IT IS LEARNING BEHAVIOR IN SMALL STEPS THAT ARE SUCCESSIVE
APPROXIMATIONS TOWARD THE FINAL DESIRED BEHAVIOR.
CHAINING IS THE ORDER OF THE DESIRED SEQUENCE OF SKILLS
LEADING TO THE DESIRED BEHAVIOR .
GENERALIZATION
IT IS THE TRANSFER OF THE LEARNING'S FROM THE BEHAVIORAL
THERAPY ROOM TO THE OUTSIDE WORLD .

12. PUNISHMENT
• IT IS A PROCEDURE BY WHICH THE APPLICATION OR REMOVAL OF A STIMULUS
WHICH DECREASES THE STRENGTH OF THE BEHAVIOR
• IT IS NOT SAME AS THE NEGATIVE REINFORCEMENT
• IT IS COMMONLY REFERRED AS “TIME-OUT”
• THERE ARE TWO TYPE OF PUNISHMENT
NEGATIVE PUNISHMENT: APPLICATION OF AN UNDESIRABLE STIMULUS
POSITIVE PUNISHMENT: LOSS OF DESIRABLE STIMULUS

13. APPLICATIONS
FOR SELF IMPROVEMENT
That include gaining self control, identifying target behavior, monitor current habits…
AT SCHOOL
For improving grades, performance
IN SPORTS
For winning, skill development
AT WORK
Many organizations used reinforces to influence productivity
AT HOME
Reinforcement is used and abused in many parenting situations. It can be used effectively to help children
to change and manage their behavior

14. CONCLUSION
• BEHAVIOR WHICH IS REINFORCED TENDS TO BE REPEATED (I.E.,
STRENGTHENED); BEHAVIOR WHICH IS NOT REINFORCED TENDS TO DIE
OUT-OR BE EXTINGUISHED (I.E., WEAKENED).
• ​ SKINNER FOUND THAT THE TYPE OF REINFORCEMENT WHICH
PRODUCES THE SLOWEST RATE OF EXTINCTION (I.E., PEOPLE WILL GO ON
REPEATING THE BEHAVIOR FOR THE LONGEST TIME WITHOUT
REINFORCEMENT) IS VARIABLE-RATIO REINFORCEMENT. THE TYPE OF
REINFORCEMENT WHICH HAS THE QUICKEST RATE OF EXTINCTION IS
CONTINUOUS REINFORCEMENT.

15. TECHNIQUES OF OPERANT CONDITONING
• REINFORCEMENT
• PUNISHMENT

16. APPLICATIONS OF OPERANT CONDITIONING