operant conditioning

the process in which behavioral change (i.e., learning) occurs as a function of the consequences of behavior. Examples are teaching a dog to do tricks and rewarding behavioral change in a misbehaving child (see behavior therapy). The term is essentially equivalent to instrumental conditioning. Also called operant learning. See behavior modification; shaping. [first described by B. F. Skinner]

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Psychology term of the day

March 15th 2025

motor neuron pool

a collection of motor neurons whose axons all connect to the same muscle, although the motor neurons may be scattered through a few levels of the spinal cord.