Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Behaviorism01:28

Behaviorism

The field of behaviorism was pioneered by figures such as Ivan Pavlov, John B. Watson, and B.F. Skinner fundamentally shifted the focus of psychology to the observable and controllable aspects of human and animal behavior. This shift marked a critical evolution in the discipline, emphasizing scientific rigor and experimental methodology.
The core premise of behaviorism is its focus on observable behavior rather than internal thoughts or feelings. This approach argues that true scientific...
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:
Reinforcement Schedules01:24

Reinforcement Schedules

Positive reinforcement is a powerful method for teaching new behaviors to both animals and humans. B.F. Skinner demonstrated this with his experiments using rats in a Skinner box. When a rat pressed a lever, it received a food pellet. This immediate reward encouraged the rat to repeat the behavior. This method, where a reward follows every instance of the behavior, is known as continuous reinforcement. It is highly effective for establishing new behaviors quickly.
Once a behavior is learned,...
Timing and Consequences on Behavior01:08

Timing and Consequences on Behavior

In operant conditioning, the timing of reinforcement is crucial. For animals like rats and cats, immediate reinforcement (within a few seconds) is much more effective than delayed reinforcement. For example, a food reward for a rat needs to follow within 30 seconds of pressing a bar to be effective. 
Humans, however, can respond to delayed reinforcers. We often make decisions between immediate small rewards and delayed larger rewards. This ability to delay gratification is a significant factor...
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...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Misdescribing the carneau: A perplexing plurality.

The Behavior analyst·2012
Same author

What is happening in psychology of learning courses?

The Behavior analyst·2012
Same author

Where is "Animal intelligence"?

The Behavior analyst·2012
Same author

A suggestion for describing combinations of response-dependent and response-independent events.

The Behavior analyst·2012
Same author

Response to Myers on participation of women in behavior analysis: Right problem, wrong source.

The Behavior analyst·2012
Same author

Contingency and behavior analysis.

The Behavior analyst·2012

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 10, 2026

Pavlovian Conditioned Approach Training in Rats
06:57

Pavlovian Conditioned Approach Training in Rats

Published on: February 4, 2016

Recent reinforcement-schedule research and applied behavior analysis.

K A Lattal1, N A Neef

  • 1West Virginia University.

Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis
|July 1, 1996
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

This study explores how past experiences influence current behavior under different reinforcement schedules. Understanding behavioral history is key for effective applied behavior analysis and reinforcement strategies.

More Related Videos

Three Laboratory Procedures for Assessing Different Manifestations of Impulsivity in Rats
09:12

Three Laboratory Procedures for Assessing Different Manifestations of Impulsivity in Rats

Published on: March 17, 2019

Training Laboratory Rabbits to Refine Routine Husbandry Procedures
05:21

Training Laboratory Rabbits to Refine Routine Husbandry Procedures

Published on: February 16, 2024

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 10, 2026

Pavlovian Conditioned Approach Training in Rats
06:57

Pavlovian Conditioned Approach Training in Rats

Published on: February 4, 2016

Three Laboratory Procedures for Assessing Different Manifestations of Impulsivity in Rats
09:12

Three Laboratory Procedures for Assessing Different Manifestations of Impulsivity in Rats

Published on: March 17, 2019

Training Laboratory Rabbits to Refine Routine Husbandry Procedures
05:21

Training Laboratory Rabbits to Refine Routine Husbandry Procedures

Published on: February 16, 2024

Area of Science:

  • Behavioral Psychology
  • Applied Behavior Analysis

Background:

  • Reinforcement schedules are fundamental to understanding behavior modification.
  • Contemporary research investigates factors influencing schedule performance.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine laboratory experiments on reinforcement schedules in relation to applied behavior analysis.
  • To investigate the impact of behavioral history, instructions, and dynamic schedules on performance.

Main Methods:

  • Review of recent laboratory experiments involving humans and other animals.
  • Analysis of studies focusing on behavioral history effects, instructional roles, and dynamic reinforcement schedules.

Main Results:

  • Behavioral history significantly impacts current schedule performance across various experimental conditions.
  • Instructions play a crucial role in human performance within reinforcement schedules.
  • Dynamic schedules present unique challenges and patterns in reinforcement research.

Conclusions:

  • Behavioral history is a critical factor in applied behavior analysis and reinforcement practices.
  • Further research is needed to address general issues concerning reinforcement schedules in applied settings.
  • Findings have implications for designing effective behavioral interventions and understanding reinforcement dynamics.