A schedule of reinforcement is a rule that dictates how and when reinforcement is delivered during operant conditioning training. These schedules outline when to present or remove a reinforcer based on how much time has elapsed or how many responses…
Operant conditioning is a learning process in which the consequences of an action determine the likelihood that the behavior will occur again in the future. This type of learning by association involves the use of reinforcement or punishment to either…
Classical conditioning is a type of associative learning that takes place unconsciously. It works by associating one stimulus with something else that already leads to a response. After an association is formed, the new stimulus will start to produce the…
B. F. Skinner was born on March 20, 1904. He went on to become an influential psychologist who first described the learning process known as operant conditioning. Skinner played a pivotal role in behaviorism, a school of thought that suggested…
Behaviorism is a theory of human psychology that suggests that all behaviors are acquired through conditioning. According to this approach to psychology, it is our interactions with our environments that shape what we learn, who we are, and how we…
Classical conditioning vs operant conditioning? What exactly are the differences between these two types of learning? Both classical conditioning and operant are central to behaviorism, but students often get confused about the differences between the two. Use this study guide…
Stimulus generalization occurs when an organism responds to a stimulus in the same way that it responds to a similar stimulus. This occurs during the classical conditioning process. For example, imagine that a dog has been conditioned to run to…
Acquisition refers to an early stage of the learning process during which time a response is first established. At this point in learning, the subject will begin displaying the behavior when a stimulus is presented, so we can then say…
Have you ever gone to a circus or other event and watched animals perform amazing tricks? Do you ever wonder exactly how the trainers managed to get these animals to do things that they would never do on their own?…
