Operant Conditioning

Operant Conditioning is the discriction of the effects of the consequences of a particular behavior on the future occurrence of that behavior.

Positive Reinforcement


Positive reinforcement means starting or adding Something Good, something the animal likes or enjoys. Because the animal wants to gain that Good Thing again, it will repeat the behavior that seems to cause that consequence.





Negative Reinforcement


Negative reinforcement increases a behavior by ending or taking away Something Bad or aversive. By making the animal's circumstances better, you are rewarding it and increasing the likelihood that it will repeat the behavior that was occurring when you ended the Bad Thing.





Positive Punishment


Positive punishment is something that is applied to reduce a behavior. The term "positive" often confuses people, because in common terms "positive" means something good, upbeat, happy, pleasant, rewarding. Positive punishment, when applied correctly, is the most effective way to stop unwanted behaviors.





Negative Punishment


f the animal was enjoying or depending on Something Good she will work to avoid it getting taken away. They are less likely to repeat a behavior that results in the loss of a Good Thing. This type of consequence is a little harder to control.





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