AP BIOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -Operant conditioning occurs when a behavior (as opposed to a stimulus) is associated with the occurrence of a significant event. In the best-known example, a rat in a laboratory learns to press a lever in a cage (called a “Skinner box”) to receive food.

Detailed explanation-2: -For example, when lab rats press a lever when a green light is on, they receive a food pellet as a reward. When they press the lever when a red light is on, they receive a mild electric shock. As a result, they learn to press the lever when the green light is on and avoid the red light.

Detailed explanation-3: -While initially the rat would push the lever a few times by accident, it eventually associated pushing the lever with getting the food. This type of learning is an example of operant conditioning.

Detailed explanation-4: -B. F. Skinner did not use puzzle boxes. Instead, he developed a device known as an operant conditioning chamber, or Skinner box. The first such device, used with food-deprived rats, was a small box that contained a metal lever and a small cup into which food pellets could be delivered.

Detailed explanation-5: -In operant conditioning, the animal repeats behaviors that have desired consequences and avoids behaviors that lead to undesirable consequences. For instance, bears, raccoons, dogs, and rats raid garbage cans because they have learned through trial and error that doing so leads to finding food.