Operant Conditioning

Operant Conditioning

What is operant conditioning? Operant conditioning is a way of controlling behavior(s) through punishments or rewards. Parents often try to get their children to do the things they ask them to do by using operant conditioning. Children will either do what is asked, or they will have a consequence. Professors can also use operant conditioning to get their students to complete assignments. Either the student does the work, or their professor gives them a failing grade.

Reinforcements can also be utilized. Examples of reinforcement would be a positive reinforcement, which is like a reward that comes after the behavior has been desirable. A negative reinforcement is like a type of punishment, where something is often removed from the situation that is causing the undesired behavior. When there is punishment, either positive or negative, there is going to be different outcomes. Positive punishment is used to make the behavior less appealing. Negative punishment happens after a positive behavior is taken away after the behavior happens. In utilizing both types of punishment, one sees that the behavior is less likely to occur.

Studying is one challenge that I have yet to overcome. Studying is something that cannot be avoided. Should I choose not to study, I will expect to receive a failing grade, because I will not be able to participate in class. Another challenge I have is time management. I start reading for a class and I find myself getting very distracted either by the dog, the phone, the kids, or just the quiet starts getting to me. I have tried several things to try to help sort this out. I have tried using quiet elevator type music, but that tends to make me want to go to sleep. I have tried drinking peppermint herbal tea and that does help to an extent. I believe the tea is helping because when I get stressed out, my stomach starts becoming irritated, so therefore, by drinking the herbal tea it keeps my stomach from becoming irritated and I am able to focus a little bit better on my readings. Drinking the peppermint herbal tea is like my own positive reinforcement. Chewing spearmint gum is another type of positive reinforcement for me because I enjoy the taste of it. I like how it feels when I crack it between my back teeth.

Focusing has always been a problem for me. I can remember details from books I have read when I was a kid, but yet