How to Understand Operant Conditioning

By eHow Parenting Editor

Instructions

Step 1:
Reinforce desired behavior with a positive consequence. For example, rewarding your dog with a treat after he performs a desired behavior will cause him to perform the desired behavior again. Each time you do this will strengthen the desired behavior. This behavior is the first type of operant conditioning, called "Positive Reinforcement."
Step 2:
Use "Negative Reinforcement," the second type of operant conditioning, to stop an undesired behavior. For example, your dog doesn't like when your toddler pulls his tail. Your dog sleeps against the gate to the playroom so your toddler can't get out to pull his tail. Your dog's behavior of sleeping against the gate has been strengthened by negative reinforcement since every time he doesn't sleep against the gate, your toddler gets out and pulls his tail.
Step 3:
Stop or weaken an undesired behavior with a negative consequence. For example, to stop your dog from barking at night, put a collar on him that gives him a small shock every time he barks. His non-barking behavior will be reinforced because of the negative consequence he receives if he barks. This third type of operant conditioning is called "Punishment."
Step 4:
Weaken an undesired behavior by not providing a positive condition or the stopping of a negative condition when it is performed. For example, if you want your dog to stop sleeping against the playroom gate, stop petting him when you see him doing it and take your toddler out of the playroom to another area of the house. Your dog will realize there's no more reason to sleep there and soon find another place to hang out. This type of operant conditioning is called "Extinction."
Step 5:
Notice the differences in the types of operant conditioning and choose one to best suit your purposes. Strengthen behavior with positive or negative reinforcement and weaken behavior with punishment and extinction.

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