COGNITIVE BEHAVIORAL THEORY:

BURRHUS FREDERIC
SKINNER

OPERANT CONDITIONING

OPERANT
CONDITIONING
Where

people learn their behavior from their

history or past experiences, particularly those
experiences that were repeatedly reinforced.

is

a method of learning that occurs through

rewards and punishments for behavior.

BEHAVIORAL PRINCIPLES OF
OPERANT CONDITIONING
All

behavior is learned.

Consequences

result from behavior reward or

punishment
Behavior

that is rewarded with reinforcers tends to

recur.
Positive

reinforcers that follow a behavior increase

the likelihood that the behavior will recur.

BEHAVIORAL PRINCIPLES OF
OPERANT CONDITIONING
Negative

reinforcers that are removed after a

behavior increase the likelihood that the behavior
will recur.

Continuous

reinforcement (a reward every time the

behavior occurs) is the fastest way to increase that
behavior, but the behavior will not last long after
the reward ceases.

BEHAVIORAL PRINCIPLES OF
OPERANT CONDITIONING

Random,

intermittent reinforcement (an occasional

reward for the desired behavior) is slower to produce
an increase in behavior, but the behavior continues
after the reward ceases.

BEHAVIOR
MODIFICATION
A

method of attempting to strengthen a

desired behavior or response by
reinforcement, either

NEGATIVE.

POSITIVE

or

SYSTEMATIC
DESENSITIZATION
Used

to help clients overcome irrational fears

and anxiety associated with phobia.

The

client is asked to make a list of situations

involving the phobic object, from the least to the
most anxiety-provoking.

Types of responses or operant that

can follow behavior
Neutral

Operants

Reinforcers

Punishers

Skinner Operant Conditioning

in relation to the Nursing
Profession

Systemic Desensitization
Positive Reinforcement
Negative Reinforcement
Escape Conditioning
Avoidance Conditioning

Classroom Management
Behavior Modification
Instructional Development

 Behaviorism is a developmental theory that

measures observable behaviors produced
by a learners response to stimuli.
Behaviorist theory influenced the
understanding of human activities- acting,
thinking, and feeling.

I.

Operant Conditioning Model:

Contingencies to Increase and
Decrease the Probability of an
Organisms Response

To increase the probability of a response:

A. Positive reinforcement: application of a pleasant stimulus Reward conditioning: a pleasant

stimulus is applied following an organisms response
B. Negative reinforcement: removal of an aversive or unpleasant stimulus
Escape conditioning: as an aversive stimulus is applied, the organism makes a response that causes
the unpleasant stimulus to cease Avoidance conditioning: an aversive stimulus is anticipated by the
organism, which makes a response to avoid the unpleasant
Escape conditioning: as an aversive stimulus is applied, the organism makes a response that causes
the unpleasant stimulus to cease Avoidance conditioning: an aversive stimulus is anticipated by the
organism, which makes a response to avoid the unpleasant event
II. To decrease or extinguish the probability of a response:
B. Nonreinforcement: an organisms conditioned response is not followed by any kind of
reinforcement (positive, negative, or punishment)
C. B. Punishment: following a response, an aversive stimulus that the organism cannot escape or
avoid is applied

Operant

conditioning and behavior

modification techniques also have been
found to work well with some nursing
home and long term care residents,
especially those who are losing their
cognitive skills

THANK YOU!

Labalan Lao - Mende