What is operant conditioning?

Operant conditioning is accurately described as a learning process where behavior is shaped by reinforcement or punishment. This theory, primarily developed by B.F. Skinner, posits that behaviors that are followed by favorable consequences (reinforcements) are more likely to be repeated in the future, while those followed by unfavorable consequences (punishments) are less likely to occur again.

In practical terms, operant conditioning involves modifying behavior through various types of reinforcement, such as positive reinforcement (adding a pleasant stimulus to increase a behavior) or negative reinforcement (removing an unpleasant stimulus to increase a behavior). Conversely, punishment can involve positive punishment (adding an unpleasant consequence to reduce a behavior) or negative punishment (removing a pleasant stimulus to decrease a behavior).

The other options present concepts that do not align with the fundamental principles of operant conditioning. Emotional learning pertains to how feelings and affective states interact with learning, cognitive restructuring focuses on changing thought patterns to alter behaviors, and improving memory retention concerns techniques aimed specifically at enhancing the recall of information, none of which are directly related to the operant conditioning framework.