What is instrumental conditioning in psychology?

Instrumental conditioning is another term for operant conditioning, a learning process first described by B. F. Skinner. 1 In instrumental conditioning, reinforcement or punishment are used to either increase or decrease the probability that a behavior will occur again in the future.

What are some examples of operant conditioning?

Operant conditioning can also be used to decrease a behavior via the removal of a desirable outcome or the application of a negative outcome. For example, a child may be told they will lose recess privileges if they talk out of turn in class. This potential for punishment may lead to a decrease in disruptive behaviors.

What are the three types of conditioning?

There are three main types of learning: classical conditioning, operant conditioning, and observational learning. Both classical and operant conditioning are forms of associative learning, in which associations are made between events that occur together.

What is positive punishment in operant conditioning?

Positive punishment is a concept used in B.F. Skinner’s theory of operant conditioning. In the case of positive punishment, it involves presenting an unfavorable outcome or event following an undesirable behavior. When the subject performs an unwanted action, some type of negative outcome is purposefully applied.

Can you do operant conditioning on yourself?

You can apply this theory to yourself by finding positive pairings that enhance behavioral change, or by removing negative associations that reinforce bad habits. Operant Conditioning is another type of learning process that uses reinforcement or punishment to shape desired behavior.

What is punishment in operant conditioning?

Punishment is a term used in operant conditioning psychology to refer to any change that occurs after a behavior that reduces the likelihood that that behavior will occur again in the future. Punishment is often mistakenly confused with negative reinforcement.

How is instrumental conditioning different from classical conditioning?

Instrumental conditioning utilizes a different paradigm from classical conditioning. It involves establishing a relationship between a response and an outcome. Researchers have examined whether spinal neurons are sensitive to response-outcome (R-O) relations using a version of the Horridge paradigm.

Is it possible to control reflexes with instrumental conditioning?

Instrumental control of reflexive behavior appears to be possible under highly controlled experimental conditions. For example, Miller (1969) demonstrated that many reflexes can be modified with instrumental conditioning, utilizing a complicated operant conditioning procedure.

Which is another term for operant or instrumental conditioning?

Another Term for Operant Conditioning. Instrumental conditioning is another term for operant conditioning, a learning process first described by B. F. Skinner. In instrumental conditioning, reinforcement or punishment are used to either increase or decrease the probability that a behavior will occur again in the future.

How is instrumental conditioning used in animal training?

In these examples, the teacher is using reinforcement to strengthen the hand-raising behavior and punishment to weaken the talking out of turn behavior. Instrumental conditioning is often used in animal training as well. For example, training a dog to shake hands would involve offering a reward every time the desired behavior occurs.