Operant Conditioning

Through operant conditioning the environment builds the basic repertoire with which we keep our balance, walk, play games, handle instruments and tools, talk, write, sail a boat, drive a car, or fly a plane.
B. F. Skinner (1953)

Operant conditioning refers to change in the occurrence of a behavior when the behavior is correlated with a particular consequence. If the consequence is desirable, then the behavior becomes more likely. If the consequence is aversive, then the behavior becomes less likely. Operant conditioning is a form of learning that occurs as a result of the consequences that follow responses.

This type of learning plays a prominent role in educational settings in which teachers, parents, psychologists, and other school personnel have responsibility for teaching or ...

  • Loading...
locked icon

Sign in to access this content

Get a 30 day FREE TRIAL

  • Watch videos from a variety of sources bringing classroom topics to life
  • Read modern, diverse business cases
  • Explore hundreds of books and reference titles