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Related Concept Videos

Operant Conditioning01:21

Operant Conditioning

Operant conditioning, a key concept in behavioral psychology, involves using reinforcement and punishment to alter the likelihood of a behavior being repeated. B.F. introduced this type of conditioning. Skinner focused on voluntary behaviors and the consequences that follow them, influencing whether these behaviors will be strengthened or diminished.
Reinforcement in operant conditioning can be positive or negative, both of which serve to increase the likelihood of a behavior. Positive...
Reinforcement01:23

Reinforcement

Positive and negative reinforcement are key concepts in operant conditioning, a learning process where the consequences of a behavior affect the likelihood of that behavior being repeated.
Positive reinforcement occurs when a behavior is followed by the presentation of a rewarding stimulus, increasing the frequency of that behavior. For example:
Role of Shaping in Operant Conditioning01:19

Role of Shaping in Operant Conditioning

Shaping is a technique used in operant conditioning to train complex behaviors by rewarding successive approximations toward the target behavior. This method is necessary because organisms are unlikely to perform complex behaviors spontaneously. Instead, shaping breaks down the desired behavior into small, manageable steps.
The steps involved in shaping begin with reinforcing any response that resembles the desired behavior. For example, parents might praise a child for picking up one toy. As...
Generalization, Discrimination, and Extinction01:24

Generalization, Discrimination, and Extinction

Generalization, discrimination, and extinction are key concepts in operant conditioning that influence how behaviors are learned and maintained.
Generalization occurs when a behavior reinforced in one context is performed in similar situations. For instance, a student who studies diligently for calculus and receives excellent grades might apply the same study habits to psychology and history, expecting similar results. Generalization shows how learning in one setting can influence behavior in...
Behavior Modification01:21

Behavior Modification

Behavioral approaches have often been criticized for ignoring mental processes and focusing solely on observable behavior. However, these approaches provide an optimistic perspective for individuals seeking to change their behaviors. Rather than concentrating on intrinsic personality traits, behavioral approaches suggest that even longstanding habits can be modified by changing the reward contingencies that maintain them.
A real-world application of operant conditioning principles is applied...
Operant Conditioning Intervention01:24

Operant Conditioning Intervention

Operant conditioning serves as a foundational principle in therapeutic interventions aimed at modifying maladaptive behaviors. Central to this approach is the notion that behaviors, both adaptive and maladaptive, are learned through reinforcement. By analyzing the environmental factors that reinforce problematic behaviors, clinicians can design interventions to weaken these reinforcements and replace maladaptive behaviors with healthier alternatives.
In operant conditioning, behaviors that are...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 20, 2026

A Fully Automated Rodent Conditioning Protocol for Sensorimotor Integration and Cognitive Control Experiments
09:43

A Fully Automated Rodent Conditioning Protocol for Sensorimotor Integration and Cognitive Control Experiments

Published on: April 15, 2014

TECHNIQUE FOR SUSTAINING BEHAVIOR WITH CONDITIONED REINFORCEMENT.

J ZIMMERMAN

    Science (New York, N.Y.)
    |November 8, 1963
    PubMed
    Summary

    Pigeons pecked for food, and a second key produced stimuli associated with food. Responding on the second key was maintained indefinitely by these conditioned reinforcers, demonstrating their effectiveness in behavior control.

    Area of Science:

    • Behavioral psychology
    • Animal behavior studies
    • Operant conditioning principles

    Background:

    • Conditioned reinforcers are stimuli that predict primary reinforcement.
    • Understanding conditioned reinforcement is crucial for explaining complex behaviors.
    • Previous research has established the reinforcing properties of stimuli paired with primary rewards.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To investigate the maintaining power of conditioned reinforcers on operant responding.
    • To determine if stimuli predicting food alone could sustain behavior indefinitely.
    • To analyze the relationship between conditioned reinforcement schedules and response patterns.

    Main Methods:

    • Pigeons were trained on an intermittent reinforcement schedule for key pecking (primary reinforcement).
    Keywords:
    BEHAVIORBIRDSCONDITIONING (PSYCHOLOGY)EXPERIMENTAL LAB STUDYREINFORCEMENT (PSYCHOLOGY)

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  • A second key concurrently produced stimuli previously paired with food (conditioned reinforcers).
  • Response rates and patterns on the second key were recorded under these conditions.

    • Main Results:

    • Responding on the second key was maintained indefinitely, even without primary reinforcement.
    • The rate and pattern of responding on the second key varied based on the schedule of conditioned reinforcement.
    • Conditioned reinforcers alone were sufficient to sustain operant behavior over extended periods.

    Conclusions:

    • Conditioned reinforcers can effectively maintain operant behavior indefinitely.
    • The schedule of conditioned reinforcement significantly influences the characteristics of the maintained behavior.
    • This study highlights the potent role of learned associations in driving sustained behavior.