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Related Concept Videos

Operant Conditioning01:21

Operant Conditioning

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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...
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Reinforcement Schedules01:24

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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,...
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Timing and Consequences on Behavior01:08

Timing and Consequences on Behavior

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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...
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Primary and Secondary Reinforcers01:23

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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.
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Generalization, Discrimination, and Extinction01:24

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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...
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Operant Conditioning Intervention01:24

Operant Conditioning Intervention

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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...
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Updated: Mar 3, 2026

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

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Noncontingent reinforcement competes with response performance.

Michael E Kelley1, Cy B Nadler2, Catalina Rey1

  • 1The Scott Center for Autism Treatment and Florida Institute of Technology.

Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior
|April 29, 2017
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Noncontingent reinforcement can decrease problem behaviors but may hinder learning alternative skills. Higher amounts of reinforcement compete with acquiring and performing desired responses in both humans and animals.

Keywords:
differential reinforcement of alternative behaviornoncontingent reinforcementpigeontranslational research

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Related Experiment Videos

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Area of Science:

  • Behavioral Psychology
  • Applied Behavior Analysis
  • Animal Behavior

Background:

  • Noncontingent reinforcement (NCR) is a common intervention to reduce problem behavior.
  • NCR aims to decrease motivation and the link between behavior and consequences.
  • Potential drawback: NCR may interfere with learning alternative, desirable behaviors.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate how varying amounts of noncontingent reinforcement affect alternative responding.
  • To determine if NCR competes with the acquisition and performance of alternative behaviors.
  • To extend previous findings across human and nonhuman participants.

Main Methods:

  • Experiment 1: Assessed effects of NCR (0-100% of sessions) on manding (requests) in a child with developmental disabilities.
  • Experiment 2: Assessed effects of NCR on keypecking in pigeons maintained by food.
  • Random manipulation of NCR value in pigeons to control for sequence effects.

Main Results:

  • Noncontingent reinforcement competed with both the acquisition and maintenance (performance) of alternative responses.
  • This effect was observed across both human and nonhuman participants.
  • Greater amounts of NCR led to increased competition with alternative responding.

Conclusions:

  • Noncontingent reinforcement can interfere with the learning and performance of alternative behaviors.
  • Findings are generalizable across species, suggesting a broad behavioral principle.
  • Careful consideration of NCR schedules is needed to avoid unintended interference with skill acquisition.