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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...
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...
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...
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...
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,...
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:

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 23, 2026

Operant Procedures for Assessing Behavioral Flexibility in Rats
08:30

Operant Procedures for Assessing Behavioral Flexibility in Rats

Published on: February 15, 2015

Do establishing operations alter reinforcement effectiveness?

C Cherpas

    The Behavior Analyst
    |April 6, 2012
    PubMed
    Summary
    This summary is machine-generated.

    Establishing operations (EOs) alter reinforcement effectiveness and evoke behavior. This study questions if EOs solely evoke behavior, exploring how to experimentally analyze their reinforcement-altering function.

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    Area of Science:

    • Behavioral psychology
    • Experimental analysis of behavior

    Background:

    • Establishing operations (EOs) are defined as operations that alter the effectiveness of reinforcement.
    • EOs are also known to evoke behavior, suggesting a dual role.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To investigate whether establishing operations (EOs) possess only evocative effects.
    • To explore methods for experimentally analyzing the reinforcement-altering function of EOs.
    • To consider the evolutionary and conceptual implications of EOs with dual functions.

    Main Methods:

    • The study proposes a conceptual analysis of EOs.
    • It raises questions about experimental designs to isolate the reinforcement-altering effect.

    Main Results:

    • The core question is how to experimentally differentiate the evocative and reinforcement-altering functions of EOs.
    • The study suggests that EOs might function solely as antecedent events controlling behavior.

    Conclusions:

    • Further experimental analysis is needed to confirm the dual-function hypothesis of EOs.
    • Understanding the precise mechanisms of EOs is crucial for behavioral interventions.