8 Forms of Operant Conditioning Found on The Social Work Exam

We all remember B.F. Skinner who discovered operant conditioning. He believed that behaviors were influenced by what happens after a response not before. The following are 8 forms of operant conditioning: 

1) Consequences- the result of a behavior are the consequences and depending on what these consequences are will increase or decrease the likelihood of repeat behavior

2)Shaping- is a way to reinforce or guide a behavior by the use of approximations

3)Positive Reinforcement- described in picture above, give a dog a bone (reward) for good behavior and it will reinforce it

4)Negative Reinforcement –  take away kindness and attention which will reinforce behavior by taking away averse thing 

 5)Positive Punishment – By adding something bad it will reinforce behavior by adding a penalty 

6)Negative Punishment – Take away something good which will reinforce the behavior 

7)Primary Reinforcer – These are basic satisfying stimuli that don't have to be learned like access to food and water

8)Secondary Reinforcer –These are learned stimuli that have been reinforced through experience such as money or grades 



More info on Skinner found here