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

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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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:

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

Associations between imprinted gene differentially methylated regions, appetitive traits and body mass index in children.

Pediatric obesity·2018
Same author

Maternal pre-pregnancy obesity and child neurodevelopmental outcomes: a meta-analysis.

Obesity reviews : an official journal of the International Association for the Study of Obesity·2017
Same author

Behavioral pharmacology and verbal behavior: Diazepam effects on verbal self-reports.

The Analysis of verbal behavior·2012
Same author

Differential latency and selective nondisclosure in verbal self-reports.

The Analysis of verbal behavior·2012
Same author

The trouble with babies and the value of bathwater: Complexities in the use of verbal reports as data.

The Analysis of verbal behavior·2012
Same author

Staffing the empirical analysis of verbal behavior.

The Analysis of verbal behavior·2012

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 4, 2026

Operant Protocols for Assessing the Cost-benefit Analysis During Reinforced Decision Making by Rodents
07:05

Operant Protocols for Assessing the Cost-benefit Analysis During Reinforced Decision Making by Rodents

Published on: September 10, 2018

Human sensitivity to reinforcement in operant choice: How much do consequences matter?

S H Kollins1, M C Newland, T S Critchfield

  • 1Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama, kollish@fiona.umsmed.edu.

Psychonomic Bulletin & Review
|February 19, 2011
PubMed
Summary

Human operant conditioning experiments may overestimate species differences in behavioral sensitivity. Methodological issues, not inherent species discontinuities, likely explain observed variations in reinforcement sensitivity between humans and nonhumans.

More Related Videos

A Conflict Model of Reward-seeking Behavior in Male Rats
06:11

A Conflict Model of Reward-seeking Behavior in Male Rats

Published on: February 20, 2019

Pavlovian Conditioned Approach Training in Rats
06:57

Pavlovian Conditioned Approach Training in Rats

Published on: February 4, 2016

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 4, 2026

Operant Protocols for Assessing the Cost-benefit Analysis During Reinforced Decision Making by Rodents
07:05

Operant Protocols for Assessing the Cost-benefit Analysis During Reinforced Decision Making by Rodents

Published on: September 10, 2018

A Conflict Model of Reward-seeking Behavior in Male Rats
06:11

A Conflict Model of Reward-seeking Behavior in Male Rats

Published on: February 20, 2019

Pavlovian Conditioned Approach Training in Rats
06:57

Pavlovian Conditioned Approach Training in Rats

Published on: February 4, 2016

Area of Science:

  • Behavioral science
  • Comparative psychology
  • Operant conditioning

Background:

  • Human operant conditioning studies often suggest lower sensitivity to reinforcement consequences compared to nonhumans.
  • This perceived difference implies species discontinuities in fundamental behavioral processes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To reanalyze existing data on human operant conditioning and reinforcement sensitivity.
  • To investigate the validity of species discontinuity explanations for observed behavioral differences.

Main Methods:

  • Reanalysis of 311 data sets from 25 studies.
  • Studies utilized variable-interval schedules of reinforcement to assess sensitivity.
  • Focus on human behavioral allocation among alternatives.

Main Results:

  • Reanalysis confirmed that human behavioral allocation deviates from predictions based on programmed reinforcement rates.
  • Close inspection revealed significant methodological issues in the original studies.
  • These methodological factors heavily contributed to the observed human-nonhuman differences.

Conclusions:

  • The observed differences in reinforcement sensitivity are largely attributable to methodological limitations, not species discontinuities.
  • An explanation based on inherent species differences in basic behavioral processes is not supported by the evidence.
  • Future research should address methodological rigor to accurately compare human and nonhuman operant behavior.