Operant Conditioning Project - Assignment Example

Operant conditioning September 19, Operant conditioning Operant conditioning is a psychological method of changing or modifying one’s behavior. As opposed to classical conditioning, which involves learning with stimuli to produce a desired reaction or behavior, operant conditioning is “learning that occurs based on the consequences of behavior (Stangor, 2010).” Through positive and negative punishment and positive and negative reinforcement, a person can be conditioned to react or behave in a specific way.

Positive punishment is when a displeasing stimulus is presented to the subject in response to their unwanted behavior. The stimulus is introduced after the negative behavior has been displayed, and is therefore used to encourage the subject to adapt to a different, more desirable response. If a teenager were to throw a party without their parents’ permission and wreck the house in the process, a positive punishment would be to give that teenager extra chores around the house for a month. By being given extra work, the teenager would be dissuaded from making a mess of the house in the future.

Negative punishment is when something enjoyable to the subject is taken from them in response to their unwanted behavior. An example of negative punishment would be a parent temporarily withholding their teenage daughter’s driver license, and therefore her driving privileges, for running a stop sign and obtaining a traffic ticket. The teenager did something wrong and her punishment is to have something that she likes, which is her ability to drive, taken from her. By having this activity withheld from her, she will learn the importance of being more vigilant and less reckless while she drives.

The more that a pleasant thing is taken away, the more the subject will try to hold on to it. Positive reinforcement involves introducing an enjoyable stimulus after a desirable response has been displayed. A positive reinforcement, through conditioning, will prompt the subject to behave in the same manner when they are expecting something good to come out of it (Chance, 2003). Therefore, the good behavior will continue to be presented. An example of positive reinforcement would involve a parent giving their child candy when they pick up their toys.

If the child continues to pick up her toys, or if she stops leaving them out to begin with, the candy is a positive reinforcer. Negative reinforcement is when a behavior is strengthened or encouraged due to a negative condition being stopped or avoided as a ramification of the behavior. When a negative reinforcement is used in operant conditioning, a desired behavior is gained by putting an end to something negative. An example of negative reinforcement would be to avoid heavy traffic, which is a negative condition, by leaving home earlier to avoid the rush of vehicles.

The behavior of leaving earlier is strengthened by the ramification of the avoidance of heavy traffic. As in any other therapy, operant conditioning and the methods involved raise some ethical concerns. It is important to make sure that the subjects get the full benefit of the conditioning without being harmed, physically or mentally (Miron, 1990). Especially in the case of positive and negative punishment, the punishment aspect of the conditioning must be educational and have a good success rate, yet it also needs to be humane.

Physical restraints and prolonged seclusion should not be used as punishment due to the overall effect they can have on the wellbeing of the subject. The goal of operant conditioning is to appeal to the subject to change their behavior, and not to bring about any permanent damage. ReferencesChance, P. (2003). Learning and behavior (5 ed.). Toronto: Thomson-Wadsworth.Miron, N. (1990). Issues and implications of operant conditioning: The primary ethical consideration. Hospital and Community Psychiatry, 30, 226-228.

Stangor, C. (2010). Learning. Introduction to psychology (pp. 197-220). Irvington, New York: Flat World Knowledge.