Some Applications of Operant Conditioning

Instrumental and Operant Conditioning: Learning the Consequences of Behavior
The
use of alcohol varies considerably from
culture to culture, in part because some
cultures reward it more than others. In
Japan, for example, drinking alcohol after
work is considered appropriate, and even
encouraged. In some Islamic cultures, any
use of alcohol is actively discouraged and
may even be illegal.
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LEARNING CULTURAL VALUES
followed. First, to prevent the development of a general fear of the punisher, specify
why punishment is being given. Second, emphasize that the behavior, not the person,
is being punished. Third, without being abusive, make sure the punishment is immediate and noticeable enough to eliminate the undesirable response. A half-hearted “Quit
it” may actually reinforce a child’s misbehavior, because almost any attention is rewarding to some children. And once a child gets used to mild punishment, the parent may
resort to punishment that is far more severe than would have been necessary if stern,
but moderate, punishment had been used in the first place. (You may have witnessed
this escalation effect in grocery stores or restaurants where children ignore their parents’ initially weak efforts to stop their misbehavior.) Fourth, identify and positively
reinforce more appropriate responses.
When these guidelines are not followed, the beneficial effects of punishment may be
wiped out or may be only temporary. As demonstrated in prison systems, punishment
alone does not usually lead to rehabilitation. Following their release, about two-thirds
of U.S. prison inmates are rearrested for felonies or serious misdemeanors within three
years, and about 50 percent will go back to prison (Cassel & Bernstein, 2001; U.S.
Department of Justice, 2002).
Some Applications of Operant Conditioning
Although the principles of operant conditioning were originally worked out with animals in the laboratory, they are valuable for understanding human behavior in an
endless variety of everyday situations. (“In Review: Reinforcement and Punishment”
summarizes some key concepts of operant conditioning.) Effective use of reinforcements and punishments by parents, teachers, and peers is vital to helping children
learn what is and is not appropriate behavior at the dinner table, in the classroom,
or at a birthday party. People learn how to be “civilized” in their culture partly
through experiencing positive and negative responses from others. And differing patterns of rewards and punishments for boys and girls underlie the development of
behavior that fits culturally approved gender roles, a topic explored in more detail in
the chapter on human development.
The scientific study of operant conditioning has led to numerous treatment programs
for altering problematic behavior. Behavior modification programs that combine the use
of rewards and extinction (or carefully administered punishment) have helped countless mental patients, mentally retarded or brain-damaged individuals, autistic children,
and hard-to-manage preschoolers to develop the behaviors they need to live happier and