# Operant conditioning

> IB Psychology · IB Psychology 2027 First Assessment
> Source: https://www.owlsprep.com/study/ib-psychology-cog-operant-conditioning/

The process of operant conditioning and its role in behaviour.

## Learning objectives

- The process of operant conditioning and its role in behaviour.

## Core concept

Operant conditioning is learning from consequences. A voluntary behaviour becomes more likely if it is followed by reinforcement (something rewarding, or the removal of something unpleasant) and less likely if followed by punishment. Over time consequences shape which behaviours are repeated. It explains how behaviour is moulded by its environment without appealing to inner mental states.

## Key studies

IB Psychology answers must be supported by named studies. Learn these to cite as evidence:

**Skinner (1948)** — Pigeons fed at fixed intervals regardless of behaviour developed idiosyncratic 'superstitious' actions they repeated as if these caused the food. — *Shows how reinforcement (even accidental) shapes behaviour through consequences.*

## Evaluation (AO3)

**Strength — controlled and applicable** — The consequence–behaviour link is experimentally tight and underpins real applications (behaviour modification, token economies).

**Limitation — animal-based and non-cognitive** — Much evidence is from animals, and pure consequence-learning ignores the thoughts and expectations that shape human behaviour.

## Scope

> **note**
>
> Consequence-based learning is the focus; association-based learning is COG_2; conditioning reappears in Learning and cognition.

## Common pitfalls

- **Wrong:** Confusing operant with classical conditioning, or treating punishment as the same as negative reinforcement.
  - Why it fails: A frequently penalised misconception in IB Psychology exams.
  - Correct: Operant works on voluntary behaviour via consequences. Negative reinforcement REMOVES something unpleasant to INCREASE a behaviour; punishment DECREASES a behaviour — they are opposites.

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