Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 7, 2026

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

An interresponse time analysis of variable-ratio punishment

S D Lande

    Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior
    |January 1, 1981
    PubMed

    More Related Videos

    A Procedure to Study Stress-Induced Relapse of Heroin Seeking after Punishment-Imposed Abstinence08:05

    A Procedure to Study Stress-Induced Relapse of Heroin Seeking after Punishment-Imposed Abstinence

    Published on: March 23, 2022

    The 5-Choice Serial Reaction Time Task: A Task of Attention and Impulse Control for Rodents09:43

    The 5-Choice Serial Reaction Time Task: A Task of Attention and Impulse Control for Rodents

    Published on: August 10, 2014

    Related Concept Videos

    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...
    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,...
    Law of Effect01:06

    Law of Effect

    B.F. Skinner, a prominent figure in behavioral psychology, introduced operant conditioning by emphasizing the role of consequences in shaping behavior. This theory builds upon the law of effect proposed by Edward Thorndike, which posits that behaviors followed by satisfying outcomes are likely to be repeated. In contrast, those followed by unsatisfying outcomes are less likely to recur.
    Edward Thorndike's foundational work involved studying learning in animals, particularly using puzzle boxes...
    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...
    Punishment01:27

    Punishment

    Negative reinforcement and punishment are often confused but serve distinct functions in behavior modification. Reinforcement, whether positive or negative, increases the likelihood of a desired behavior, while punishment decreases it.
    Punishment can be positive or negative. Positive punishment involves adding an undesirable stimulus, such as scolding, to decrease a behavior. Negative punishment involves removing a desirable stimulus, such as taking away a favorite toy, to decrease behavior.
    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...