Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
To make or become better in quality, condition, or performance. In the context of studying habits, it refers to enhancing and refining one's study methods and strategies.
The internal or external factors that drive behavior. For example, a psychologist may use operant conditioning to increase a student's motivation to study by providing rewards for completing tasks.
A consequence that follows a behavior and increases the likelihood of that behavior recurring in the future. In the context of improving study habits, positive reinforcement may involve rewarding oneself with small breaks or incentives after completing certain study goals.
Self-efficacy: The belief in one's own ability to succeed in specific situations or accomplish certain tasks. A psychologist may work on improving a student's self-efficacy by using operant conditioning techniques such as shaping, where they gradually reinforce small steps towards better studying until the student gains confidence in their abilities.