Reinforcement theory of motivation/ Operant Conditioning

Introduction

Reinforcement idea is the method of forming behavior by controlling the penalties of the behavior. In reinforcement idea a blend of pays and/or penalties is utilized to reinforce desired behavior or quench unwanted behavior. Any behavior that elicits a outcome is called operant behavior, because the individual functions on his or her environment. Reinforcement idea concentrates on the connection between the operant behavior and the affiliated consequences, and is occasionally mentioned to as operant conditioning.

Background and Development of Reinforcement Theory

Behavioral ideas of learning and motivation aim on the effect that the penalties of past behavior have on future behavior. This is in contrast to academic conditioning, which focuses on responses that are triggered by stimuli in an almost automatic fashion. Reinforcement idea proposes that persons can select from several responses to a granted incentive, and that individuals will usually select the answer that has been affiliated with affirmative outcomes in the past. E.L. Thorndike articulated this idea in 1911, in what has come to be known as the regulation of effect. The law of effect fundamentally states that, all other things being identical, answers to stimuli that are pursued by satisfaction will be reinforced, but answers that are followed by discomfort will be weakened. (Michael, pp. 350-355)

B.F. Skinner was a key supplier to the development of modern concepts about reinforcement theory. Skinner contended that the interior needs and drives of individuals can be disregarded because persons discover to display certain behaviors founded on what happens to them as a outcome of their behavior. This school of thought has been termed the behaviorist, or fundamental behaviorist, school.

Reinforcement, Punishment, and Extinction

The most significant principle of reinforcement idea is, of course, reinforcement. Generally talking, there are two kinds of reinforcement: positive and negative. Positive reinforcement results when the incident of a treasured behavioral outcome has the effect of strengthening the likelihood of the behavior being repeated. The exact behavioral outcome is called a reinforcer. A demonstration of positive reinforcement might be a salesperson that uses additional effort to rendezvous a sales quota (behavior) and is then paid with a bonus (positive reinforcer). The administration of the affirmative reinforcer should make it more likely that the salesperson will extend to use the necessary effort in the future. (Michael, pp. 350-355)

Negative reinforcement results when an undesirable behavioral outcome is withheld, with the effect of strengthening the probability of the behavior being repeated. Negative reinforcement is often confused with penalty, but they are not the same. Punishment attempts to decrease the likelihood of exact behaviors; negative reinforcement endeavors to boost desired behavior. Thus, both affirmative and contradictory reinforcement have the effect of expanding the likelihood that a specific behavior will be learned and repeated. An demonstration of negative reinforcement might be a salesperson that uses effort to boost sales in his or her sales territory (behavior), which is followed by a conclusion not to reassign the salesperson to an undesirable sales route (negative reinforcer). The management of the contradictory reinforcer should make ...