2.2.7—Operant conditioning
- Syllabus
- First assessment 2027
- Objective
- 2.2.7
- Level
- SL
Consequences change the future probability of a behaviour
Operant conditioning changes behaviour through its consequences. Reinforcement increases a behaviour; punishment decreases it. Positive means adding a consequence and negative means removing one—not good and bad.
The consequence must follow the behaviour and matter to the learner. Timing, consistency and reinforcement schedule affect acquisition and maintenance; avoidance can be reinforced even when the person experiences relief rather than reward.
If checking a phone removes boredom, checking may become more frequent: the boredom is removed, so this is negative reinforcement, not punishment.
Negative does not mean harmful and positive does not mean beneficial. Classify by direction of behaviour change and what is added or removed.