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Related Concept Videos

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...
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...
Control Systems01:10

Control Systems

Control systems are everywhere in contemporary society, influencing diverse applications from aerospace to automated manufacturing. These systems can be found naturally within biological processes, such as blood sugar regulation and heart rate adjustment in response to stress, as well as in man-made systems like elevators and automated vehicles. A control system is essentially a network of subsystems and processes that collaboratively convert specific inputs into desired outputs.
At the heart...
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...
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

Novelty, stimulus control, and operant variability.

Timothy A Shahan, Philip N Chase

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

    Behavior analysis explains novel behavior through variability and selection within the three-term contingency. This framework addresses criticisms regarding response novelty by examining how behavior variations arise and are selected.

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    Last Updated: May 23, 2026

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    Published on: February 15, 2015

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    06:57

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

    Published on: May 14, 2019

    Area of Science:

    • Behavioral science
    • Psychology
    • Cognitive science

    Background:

    • Behavior analysis traditionally faces criticism for not adequately explaining response novelty.
    • Key concepts like selectionism, operant conditioning, reinforcement, and stimulus control inherently involve behavioral variability.
    • The relationship between variability and novelty is crucial, especially for understanding complex behaviors like language.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To examine how behavior analysis accounts for response novelty.
    • To explore the role of variability in generating novel behaviors.
    • To review experimental evidence and theoretical concepts related to novel behavior.

    Main Methods:

    • Review of existing literature on behavior analysis concepts and novelty.
    • Examination of experimental findings on behavioral variability.
    • Application of theoretical concepts to problem-solving scenarios.

    Main Results:

    • Behavior-analytic concepts inherently incorporate variability in behavior and environment.
    • Experimental data suggest that behavioral variability can be brought under discriminative control.
    • Variations within the three-term contingency (antecedent-behavior-consequence) are key mechanisms for novel behavior.

    Conclusions:

    • Behavior analysis provides a robust framework for understanding novel behavior through variability and selection.
    • The three-term contingency effectively explains the generation and selection of new behavioral responses.
    • Addressing response novelty strengthens the explanatory power of behavior analysis.