Psychology
Mr. Plouffe
Korea International School
Operant Conditioning
Name: ______________________________________
Block: ______
Read pp. 248-251.
The second type of associative learning that we are going to examine is called
operant conditioning. Really, it is a system of rewards (reinforces behavior) and
punishments (inhibits behavior) for behavior in which the organism engages.
What’s the difference between classical and operant conditioning? See p. 249
of your text.
Some key terms:
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An operant - Relating to, or being a response that occurs spontaneously
and is identified by its reinforcing or inhibiting effects. For example, when
a child swears, his mother slaps his bottom. The slapping of the bottom is
the “operant”.
Positive reward – adding something pleasant for a desired behavior. For
example, when the child talks nicely, the mother gives him a lollypop.
Negative reward – removing something unpleasant to get a desired
behavior. For example, a dog will experience pain from the choker collar
so long as it stays standing, but when it goes to a prone position the pain
stops.
Positive punishment – adding something unpleasant to inhibit a behavior.
For example, the mother above that slaps her son for swearing is using
positive punishment.
Negative punishment – removing something pleasant to inhibit behavior.
For example, when you come home past your curfew and you mom takes
away your iPod for a whole week…plus, your cell phone. Yikes!
Operant Conditioning Examples
In each of the following stories, decide whether it is an example of positive or
negative reinforcement or positive or negative punishment. And label the
operant. Finally, explain what the consequences are for each. Use the sheet
that follows for place your answers.
1. You put $1.00 in the candy machine several times and nothing comes
out. Finally, you stop putting dollars in…duh.
2. You buy a TV and it lasts for several years. Now you will buy nothing
but that brand of electronics.
3. Not wearing a nametag at work causes you to loose $5.00 from your pay
so you always wear you name tag.
4. When there is a high pollen count outside, I take an antihistamine a
couple of hours before going outside.
Psychology
Mr. Plouffe
Korea International School
5. You ask your next door neighbor to lower a loud stereo and she does.
6. An alcoholic, taking the drug antabuse, gets violently ill when he drinks
alcohol.
7. One night when I was driving to a party, I was careless and backed into
a telephone pole and it cost me $1500 to get my car fixed and an
increase in my insurance rates.
8. Every time I said a curse word, the teacher sent me to a time out.
9. I avoid talking about anything controversial with my roommate, since I
know she will have a highly opinionated comment and I will get angry.
10. You go outside and are cold so you put on a coat.
11. A waitperson tries to be really pleasant and helpful, since in the past
when they behaved that way they received large tips.
12. When I didn't return home at the correct time, my parents would not
let me have the car next week.
13. Students laugh at my jokes, so I always try to tell them.
14. Students don't laugh at my jokes, I seldom if ever tell them any.
15. A professor ridicules a student's opinion and after that, no one will
answer his questions in class (consider this from the students’
perspective).
Operant Conditioning Answers
Use this table to turn in your answers
Name_______________________
Answer
1
2
3
4
5
6
Operant
Consequence
Psychology
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
Mr. Plouffe
Korea International School