Operant conditioning, also known as the instrumental condition refers to the methods of learning through rewards and punishments. In operant conditioning, the behavior of an individual is linked to the consequences, which is the reinforcer or the punisher. Typically, the reinforcer increases the behavioral response while the punishment decreases the behavioral response. In the case of the scenario, the child is learning to scream and yell as a way to receive whatever she want in the restaurant. Typically, it takes extra ice cream for the children to stop the yelling and behave normally. In this case, if the child gets ice-creams each moment she cries, this is reinforcement hence promoting the occurrence of the behavior every time the child needs the ice-cream. However, if the child is punished through beatings every moment she yells and screams, she becomes discouraged to practice the behavior in the future because it is punitive rather than rewarding.
Reinforcements and punishments can either be positive or negative. Positive reinforcement is the motivating stimulus that a person receives after showing the behavior, thus being likely to happen in the future. For the negative reinforcement, it occurs when the stimulus is removed after the indication of specific behaviors. Reinforcement s always aimed at increasing the behavior. Regarding the positive punishment, it involves presenting the adverse consequence after exhibiting the undesired behavior, thus making it less likely to happen. On the other hand, negative punishment tends to occur when the reinforcing stimulus is withdrawn after the specific undesired behavior, thus reducing the possibility of occurring in the future.
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In this case, the child's yelling behaviors are learned through positive reinforcement. When the parent gives the child ice-creams each time that she yells promotes the likelihood of the behavior repeating itself in the future whenever the child needs something. Giving the ice-cream promotes the ability of the child remaining calm without yelling.
