certain behavior by adding a consequence. For example if a dog poops on a carpet

we can either provide reinforcement so the dog does it again or punishments of

the dog stops. Both reinforcement and punishment can either be positive or

negative, which means we have four possible ways to teach this dog a lesson.

We can draw the four options in a table: if reinforcement is positive we add

something pleasant like a cookie to increase the likelihood of a behavior. If

reinforcement is negative we still want to increase the desired behavior this

time by removing something unpleasant like the leash. If punishment is positive

we add an unpleasant response to decrease behavior. When punishment is

negative we also want to decrease behavior now by removing something

pleasant like the comfy carpet. If we stop any sort of manipulation the

conditioned behavior will eventually disappear again.

This is called extinction. Operant conditioning was first studied by Edward

L. Thorndike and later made famous by the work of B.F. Skinner. Skinner believed that

organisms are doing what they do naturally until they accidentally

encounter a stimulus that creates conditioning which results in a change

in behavior. To test this he placed a rat inside an operant conditioning chamber

which later became known as the Skinner Box. Among other things inside the box

was a lever that would release food when pressed. Conditioning happens in a

three-term contingency today known as the ABCs of behavior. A stands for

antecedent: the rat accidentally hits the lever that triggers the release of food.

B stands for behavior and refers to the response: the rat keeps pressing the

lever. C stands for consequence: food keeps coming out.

The strength of the response to the conditioning depends on the schedule of

reinforcement. If there is always food after pressing, the rat behaves

predictably. If the food is released randomly the rat behaves erratically,

like an addict. Skinner born in 1904 was a professor of psychology and subscribed

to behaviorism. He argued that you can only study behavior that is visible and

anything happening only within the mind is either a misconception or irrelevant

to science. He thought free will was an illusion

because behavior is either random or a reaction to the environment. His work

became the foundation for behavioral therapy, military drills, and animal

training. You can try this classroom exercise on positive reinforcement: One

individual must exit the room. Now decide on a task which that individual will

complete, such as finding a particular book. Then choose an honorable way of

reinforcing that tasks such as clapping your hands. Invite the person to come

back into the room and let them try and complete the task but don't give any

instructions. Every time they are on the right track in regards to completing the

task clap your hands louder. If they move away from performing the task reduce

your applause or stop it entirely. Once the person understands what they are

supposed to do let them explain the task. Did they get it right?

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