Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Reinforcement

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:

Generalization, Discrimination, and Extinction

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...

Primary and Secondary Reinforcers

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...

Reinforcement Schedules

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,...

Role of Shaping in Operant Conditioning

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...

Steps in the Modeling Process

Steps in the Modeling Process

Albert Bandura's theory of observational learning identifies four critical processes: attention, retention, motor reproduction, and reinforcement or motivation.
Attention is the first necessary component for observational learning. It involves focusing on what the model is doing and saying. For example, if you decide to take a drawing class to enhance your skills, you need to pay close attention to the instructor's words and hand movements. The characteristics of the model significantly...

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by

Same author

Correction to: Exercise following breast cancer: exploratory survival analyses of two randomised, controlled trials.

Breast cancer research and treatment·2017

Same author

Exercise following breast cancer: exploratory survival analyses of two randomised, controlled trials.

Breast cancer research and treatment·2017

Same author

Synthesis of new photosensitive H<sub>2</sub>BBQ<sup>2+</sup>[ZnCl<sub>4</sub>]<sup>2-</sup>/[(ZnCl)<sub>2</sub>(μ-BBH)] complexes, through selective oxidation of H<sub>2</sub>O to H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub>.

Dalton transactions (Cambridge, England : 2003)·2017

Same author

DOES TREATMENT ALLEVIATE LYMPHEDEMA SYMPTOMS? A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY EVALUATING PATIENT PERSPECTIVES.

Lymphology·2016

Same author

EFFECTS OF COMPRESSION ON LYMPHEDEMA DURING RESISTANCE EXERCISE IN WOMEN WITH BREAST CANCER-RELATED LYMPHEDEMA: A RANDOMIZED, CROSS-OVER TRIAL.

Lymphology·2015

Same author

Psychological flexibility and the gains of acceptance-based treatment for post-bariatric surgery: six-month follow-up and a test of the underlying model.

Clinical obesity·2015

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 23, 2026

Modeling Verbal Behavior Deficits with the Stimulus Control Ratio Equation, SCoRE

Modeling Verbal Behavior Deficits with the Stimulus Control Ratio Equation, SCoRE

Published on: May 14, 2019

Reinforcement, stereotypy, and rule discovery.

D L Steele, S C Hayes, A J Brownstein

The Analysis of Verbal Behavior

|April 6, 2012

Summary

Reinforced pretraining did not improve rule discovery or reduce stereotyped behavior in college students. Repeated task exposure, not reinforcement contingency, likely caused observed behavioral patterns.

Area of Science:

Behavioral Psychology
Cognitive Science

Background:

Behavioral stereotypy can emerge during reinforced pretraining.
The impact of pretraining reinforcement contingency on subsequent rule discovery is not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the effects of reinforced pretraining on rule discovery.
To compare levels of behavioral stereotypy under contingent and non-contingent pretraining conditions.

Main Methods:

College students participated in a pretraining phase with either contingent or non-contingent reinforcement for key presses.
A problem session followed where participants discovered rules for reinforcement.
Behavioral stereotypy and problem-solving performance (trials to solve, problems solved) were measured.

More Related Videos

Three Laboratory Procedures for Assessing Different Manifestations of Impulsivity in Rats

Three Laboratory Procedures for Assessing Different Manifestations of Impulsivity in Rats

Published on: March 17, 2019

RBDT: A Computerized Task System based in Transposition for the Continuous Analysis of Relational Behavior Dynamics in Humans

RBDT: A Computerized Task System based in Transposition for the Continuous Analysis of Relational Behavior Dynamics in Humans

Published on: July 17, 2021

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 23, 2026

Modeling Verbal Behavior Deficits with the Stimulus Control Ratio Equation, SCoRE

Modeling Verbal Behavior Deficits with the Stimulus Control Ratio Equation, SCoRE

Published on: May 14, 2019

Three Laboratory Procedures for Assessing Different Manifestations of Impulsivity in Rats

Three Laboratory Procedures for Assessing Different Manifestations of Impulsivity in Rats

Published on: March 17, 2019

RBDT: A Computerized Task System based in Transposition for the Continuous Analysis of Relational Behavior Dynamics in Humans

RBDT: A Computerized Task System based in Transposition for the Continuous Analysis of Relational Behavior Dynamics in Humans

Published on: July 17, 2021

Main Results:

Equivalent levels of stereotyped responding were observed in both contingent and non-contingent pretraining groups.
All groups (contingently pretrained, non-contingently pretrained, and naive) required similar numbers of trials to solve problems and solved an equal number of problems.

Conclusions:

Behavioral stereotypy in this context may stem from repeated exposure to the task rather than the reinforcement contingency itself.
Findings suggest that reinforced pretraining does not enhance subsequent rule discovery compared to non-contingent pretraining or no pretraining.