What is Operant Conditioning all about?
Operant conditioning refers to a behavior change influenced by factors that follow it. This was a huge evolution in the field of learning and behavior and is used in many fields. It radically altered the way people thought behavior was “conditioned”. In the past, behavioral development was largely attributed to stimulus-response relationships (classical conditioning). This form of thinking attributed learning and behavior to biological bases (pairing behavior with sensations like light and taste and sound, similar to reflexes). The move toward operant conditioning focused on the social components that occur right after behavior. Rather than focusing on sensation, operant conditioning looked at all of the social and environment factors that occurred after the behavior (rather than at the exact same time with classical conditioning). In my opinion, this move was revolutionary, bringing on the systematic change that focused on using only positive reinforcement. Operant conditioning occurs
