Theory of instrumental learning

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Revision as of 14:30, 25 October 2012

Operant conditioning (also known as Instrumental learning) is a theory which assumes that you can learn human beings things by conditioning them by consequences. The original response will be influenced by a following consequence, which will change the future probability of that response. Furthermore, a process called conditioned reinforcement can be developed or can develop itself. This means that neutral stimuli that are being associated with a reinforcer or reinforcement can become reinforcers themselves in their own reight. These stimuli will encourage or discourage the behaviour, depending on the reinforcement.

The term operant conditioning is introduced by B.F. Skinner in the 1930s. The theory of instrumental learning differs from normal conditioning, because this theory assumes that behaviour can be voluntary, instead of being a reflexive respons to initiated external circumstances. Another important difference is that in the conditioning theory is that humans can't learn, because consequences can't be maintained. In the operant conditioning theory this is possible, because reinforcement can become reinforces themselves.

Example

An example of operant conditioning is as following: "If an aggressive response by one child toward another child is followed by some positive event such as the aggressor getting to play with a desired toy, then the motivation to behave aggressively can be expected to increase in the future." (Encyclopedia Brittanica, 2012). An good example of a reinforcement becoming a reinforcer is "money. A piece of paper with numbers and intricate drawings on it can motivate all sorts of behaviour if that paper has previously been associated with important reinforcers such as food, clothing, sex, and so forth. Money is in effect a token of the things it can buy." (Encyclopedia Brittanica, 2012).

References

Encyclopedia Brittanica. (2012). Find date october 25th 2012, via http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/394212/motivation/12704/Instrumental-learning

Operant conditioning. (2012). Find date october 25th 2012, on Wikipedia, via http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operant_conditioning

Contributers

Created by Marjolein Kouwenhoven, october 25th 2012