Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
Operant conditioning is a learning process where behavior is influenced by consequences such as rewards and punishments. It is fundamental in understanding how organisms adapt their behavior to environmental stimuli.
5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test
Developed by B.F. Skinner, operant conditioning involves reinforcement (positive or negative) to increase desired behaviors.
In a biological context, animals often learn foraging or mating behaviors through operant conditioning.
Positive reinforcement involves adding a stimulus to increase a behavior, while negative reinforcement involves removing an aversive stimulus.
Punishment, either positive (adding an aversive stimulus) or negative (removing a desired stimulus), decreases the likelihood of a behavior.
Operant conditioning can explain complex social behaviors within animal communities, including cooperation and competition.
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Related terms
Classical Conditioning: A learning process where an organism learns to associate two stimuli, leading to a change in behavior.
Reinforcement: In operant conditioning, it refers to any consequence that increases the likelihood of a behavior being repeated.
Punishment: A consequence that decreases the likelihood of a behavior being repeated, either by introducing an adverse stimulus or removing a beneficial one.