Which is the best description of instrumental conditioning?
Instrumental conditioning is another term for operant conditioning, a learning process first described by B. F. Skinner. In instrumental conditioning, reinforcement or punishment are used to either increase or decrease the probability that a behavior will occur again in the future.
How does the process of operant conditioning work?
How Operant Conditioning Works. Operant conditioning focuses on using either reinforcement or punishment to increase or decrease a behavior. Through this process, an association is formed between the behavior and the consequences for that behavior.
Is it possible to control reflexes with instrumental conditioning?
Instrumental control of reflexive behavior appears to be possible under highly controlled experimental conditions. For example, Miller (1969) demonstrated that many reflexes can be modified with instrumental conditioning, utilizing a complicated operant conditioning procedure.
How did Ivan Pavlov discover the conditioning process?
In his famous experiment , Ivan Pavlov noticed dogs began to salivate in response to a tone after the sound had repeatedly been paired with presenting food. Pavlov quickly realized that this was a learned response and set out to further investigate the conditioning process.
Which is the most fundamental form of conditioning?
This module discusses the two most fundamental forms of learning — classical (Pavlovian) and instrumental (operant) conditioning. Through them, we respectively learn to associate 1) stimuli in the environment, or 2) our own behaviors, with significant events, such as rewards and punishments.
How is positive reinforcement used in operant conditioning?
Similarly, actions that are followed by punishment are weakened and are less likely to be repeated. There are four key elements in operant conditioning: Positive reinforcement occurs when a response is rewarding. It increases the frequency of that response (behavior).
Is there a second type of conditioning called operant conditioning?
Although classical conditioning is a powerful explanation for how we learn many different things, there is a second form of conditioning that also helps explain how we learn. First studied by Edward Thorndike, and later extended by B. F. Skinner, this second type of conditioning is known as instrumental or operant conditioning.