B.F. Skinner developed the theory of operant conditioning based on Edward Thorndike's law of effect. Operant conditioning is a learning process where voluntary behaviors are strengthened if followed by reinforcement or weakened if followed by punishment. Skinner used operant chambers to study how animals learn through consequences. Different reinforcement schedules, like continuous or partial reinforcement, produce different learning and performance rates. Accidental reinforcement can also cause superstitious behaviors. Punishment should only be used under certain circumstances. Operant conditioning principles can be applied to areas like education, work, and parenting.

1. PRESENTATION ON SKINNER’S
THEORY
LEARNING BEHAVIOR
Kalik Dev &
Ajay Singh Rathore
Applied Criminology

2.  B.F. Skinner
(1904-1990)
 Operant
Conditioning

3. Operant Behavior Is Voluntary &
Directed
by Consequences.
 Edward Thorndike’s Law of Effect:
 The relationship between behavior and its
consequences.
 So named because behavior becomes more
or less likely based on the effect it has in
producing desirable or undesirable
consequences.
 Rewarded behavior is likely to recur. Behavior
followed by a negative consequence is less
likely to recur.

4.  B. F. Skinnermade the law of effect the
cornerstone for his influential theory of
learning, called “Operant Conditioning”.
 According to Skinner, the organism’s
behavior is “operating” on the
environment to achieve some desired
goal.
 Operant conditioning: learning in which
behavior is strengthened if followed by
reinforcement and weakened if followed by
Operant Behavior Is Voluntary &
Directed
by Consequences.

5. A Reinforcer Increases the
Probability
of the Behavior It Follows-
 The fundamental principle of behaviorism is
that rewarded behavior is likely to be
repeated.
 This is known as reinforcement in operant
conditioning.
 It also states the positive side of Thorndike’s
Law of Effect.

6. Operant Chamber (“Skinner Box”)
soundproof chamber with a bar or key that an animal can
manipulate to obtain a food or water reinforcer,
contains a device to record responses,

7. A Reinforcer Increases the
Probability
of the Behavior It Follows-
 Primary versus secondary reinforcers.
 Primary reinforcers: innately reinforcing—
satisfy biological needs.
 Secondary reinforcers: learned and become
reinforcing when associated with a primary
reinforcer.

8. A Reinforcer Increases the
Probability
of the Behavior It Follows-
 Positive and negative reinforcers.
 Positive reinforcers: strengthen a response by
presenting a positive stimulus after a
response.
 Negative reinforcer: strengthens a response
by removing an aversive stimulus after a
response.

10. Different Reinforcement Schedules
Lead to Different Learning and
Performance Rates.
 Continuous reinforcement leads to the
fastest learning.
 The biggest problem with continuous
reinforcement is that when it ends,
extinction occurs rapidly.

11. Different Reinforcement Schedules
Lead to Different Learning and
Performance Rates.
 Partial reinforcement has an important
effect on your continued performance
because being reinforced only once in a
while keeps you responding vigorously for
longer periods of time than does continuous
reinforcement.

12. Accidental Reinforcement Can
Cause Superstitious Behavior.
 Superstitious behavior: learned because it
happened to be followed by a reinforcer, even
though this behavior was not the cause of the
reinforcer.
 Skinner trained superstitious behavior in
hungry pigeons.
He reasoned that when reinforcement
occurred, it would be paired with whatever
response the pigeons had just performed.
Instances of accidental reinforcement
triggering superstitious behavior is common
among people.

13. Punishment Should Be Used Only
under Certain Circumstances.
 Punishment: The process by which a
consequence de cre ase s the probability of the
behavior that it follows.

14. Applications of Operant Conditioning.
 Structure and feedback in learning –
immediate reinforcement.
 Defined performance goals and immediate
reinforcement at work.
 Parenting – reward good behavior, ignore
whining, time-out.

16. Any Query ?