Operative Learning
Operant conditioning focuses on learning voluntary behavior that is under control of the muscle system of the body. Operant conditioning involves a much broader range of behavior than classical conditioning. Operant conditioning is the result of an ideal that individuals learn to function in their environment to attain a preferred outcome.
Operant conditioning refers to the process of reinforcing a response that is made in the company of a stimulus.
In operant conditioning an environmental stimulus is followed by a response which is followed by an environmental outcome that can be either a positive or a negative reinforces. (Keller, 1967)
In operant conditioning if a response occurs in the presence of a stimulus and this response is reinforced, this will increase the likelihood that in the future when in the presence of the same stimulus the response will be enforced. It is noted that the stimulus does not create the response and it is not sure that an operant response will be presented after the stimulus is present. Operant conditioning simply indicates that the possibility of a response in a given situation is more likely to happen if it has been positively reinforced in the past.
The philosophy of operant conditioning has been demonstrated in many experiments using different types of species such as animals and humans. B. F. Skinner has done so much work on operant condition. (http://w2byuh.edu/academics/religion/martinsm/BUS300/Book/Cherrigton-7-Motivation.pdf)
In today’s life we are pulled and pushed by many events in our environment. We sometimes just don’t act to a stimulus, we also conduct ourselves in ways that seem designed to create or get certain environmental changes or stimuli. My dog may begin to bark when it wants to go outside. If you want something while eating you may say pass me this or that please. Most of the days in our lives seem to demonstrate this type of behavior. I am sure that if my dog could control more of its life it...
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