Can someone please tell me if I am defining operant conditioning correctly:

Operant conditioning is a process of increasing or decreasing a specific behavior through reinforcement (positive or negative), punishment or extinction. The person operates based on the environment through learned discriminative stimulus.

The orriginal question:

Define operant conditioning and discuss how this method works to increase desired behavior.

If behavior is rewarded after it is done, that behavior is likely to be repeated. Punishment leads to a temporary suppression of the behavior, while nonreward (neither reward nor punishment) follows the behavior, it will go to extinction.

This article might help a little more.

http://www.members.cox.net/dagershaw/lol/Tantrums.htm

Thank you

Yes, you have defined operant conditioning correctly. Operant conditioning is a type of learning in which behavior is strengthened or weakened based on the consequences that follow it. It involves modifying behavior through reinforcement, punishment, or extinction.

To further understand operant conditioning, it is useful to break down the key components mentioned in your definition:

1. Reinforcement: It refers to the process of increasing the likelihood of a behavior occurring again by providing a consequence that is rewarding or desirable. Reinforcement can be positive, which involves adding a favorable stimulus, or negative, which involves removing an aversive stimulus.

2. Punishment: It refers to the process of reducing the likelihood of a behavior recurring by providing a consequence that is unpleasant or undesirable. Punishment can also be positive, involving the addition of an aversive stimulus, or negative, involving the removal of a favorable stimulus.

3. Extinction: It occurs when a previously reinforced behavior is no longer reinforced, leading to a decline in the occurrence of that behavior. In operant conditioning, extinction involves the withholding of reinforcement following the behavior, which undermines its occurrence.

4. Discriminative stimulus: It is a cue or signal present in the environment that indicates the likelihood of receiving reinforcement or punishment for a specific behavior. By learning to recognize discriminative stimuli, individuals are able to adjust their behavior accordingly based on the anticipated consequences.

Overall, operant conditioning focuses on the relationship between behavior and its consequences, and how this relationship can shape future behavior.