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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...
Classical Conditioning in Daily Life01:17

Classical Conditioning in Daily Life

Classical conditioning, a fundamental principle of associative learning, explains various phenomena observed in daily life, such as fear development, the placebo effect, taste aversion, and drug habituation. These applications demonstrate the profound impact of associative learning on human behavior and physiological responses.
John B. Watson and Rosalie Rayner famously demonstrated the development of fear through classical conditioning in their experiment with Little Albert. They paired the...
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...
Real-World Application of Classical Conditioning01:15

Real-World Application of Classical Conditioning

Classical conditioning not only includes the initial pairing of stimuli but also extends to more complex forms, such as higher-order conditioning. Higher-order conditioning involves creating associations beyond the primary conditioned stimulus, resulting in a chain of conditioned responses.
Higher-order, or second-order, conditioning occurs when a neutral stimulus becomes associated with an already established conditioned stimulus through repeated pairings. For instance, if a dog has been...
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,...
Primary and Secondary Reinforcers01:23

Primary and Secondary Reinforcers

In psychology, reinforcement is a key concept in behavior modification. B.F. Skinner demonstrated this with his experiments involving rats in what is known as a Skinner box. The rats learned to press a lever to receive food, a primary reinforcer that fulfilled their innate need for nourishment.
Effective reinforcers for humans vary depending on the individual and the context. Primary reinforcers, such as food, water, sleep, shelter, and pleasure, have inherent value and satisfy basic biological...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 14, 2026

Pavlovian Conditioned Approach Training in Rats
06:57

Pavlovian Conditioned Approach Training in Rats

Published on: February 4, 2016

Choice, conditioned reinforcement, and the prius effect.

Edmund Fantino1

  • 1University of California San Diego.

The Behavior Analyst
|March 23, 2010
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Conditioned reinforcers gain strength not just from pairings, but from signaling better outcomes. This highlights how context and relative value shape behavior, influencing decision-making processes.

Keywords:
chain scheduleschoiceconditioned reinforcementcontextdelay-reduction theorymatching lawobserving

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Last Updated: Jun 14, 2026

Pavlovian Conditioned Approach Training in Rats
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Area of Science:

  • Behavioral psychology
  • Decision-making science
  • Learning theory

Background:

  • Conditioned reinforcement is key to understanding behavior not driven by primary needs.
  • Choice behavior and conditioned reinforcement studies have historically progressed together.
  • Modern approaches emphasize context and relative value in understanding reinforcement.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To trace the historical evolution of understanding conditioned reinforcer potency.
  • To explore the shift from associative value to correlational value in conditioned reinforcers.
  • To synthesize experimental data and theoretical perspectives on conditioned reinforcement.

Main Methods:

  • Historical analysis of psychological research on reinforcement.
  • Review of seminal and underappreciated experiments in conditioned reinforcement.
  • Examination of ongoing data related to conditioned reinforcer strength.

Main Results:

  • Conditioned reinforcers' value acquisition has evolved from simple pairings to differential correlations.
  • The potency of conditioned reinforcers is influenced by their predictive relationship with primary reinforcers.
  • Context and relative value are critical factors in determining behavioral responses.

Conclusions:

  • The strength of conditioned reinforcers is determined by their ability to signal a relative improvement in reinforcement.
  • Understanding conditioned reinforcement is crucial for explaining complex decision-making.
  • Future research should continue to explore the signaling properties of conditioned reinforcers.