WordGarden.iooperant
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /ˈɒpərənt/
US
- /ˈɑpərənt/
Meanings
Adjective
describing behavior shaped by its consequences, especially reinforcement
Noun
a behavior or response whose frequency is changed by its consequences
Beyond the definition
Imagine training a dog. You give it a treat the moment it sits. That is operant conditioning. In psychology, the word usually describes behavior that acts on the environment and is shaped by what happens next. If an action brings a reward, it is more likely to happen again. If it brings an unpleasant result, it may happen less often.
This idea explains how many habits form. A child may learn to clean up toys because praise follows. Someone may stop touching a hot stove because pain follows. In this way, the person or animal is not just reacting passively. It is doing something, and the result helps shape future behavior.
The word "operant" is derived from the Latin operari, meaning "to work" or "to labor." While in a broad sense it can mean "functioning" or "effective," its most significant usage today is within the field of psychology, specifically relating to operant conditioning.
Developed largely by B.F. Skinner, operant conditioning is a type of learning in which behavior is shaped by consequences. These consequences are commonly described as positive reinforcement (adding something desirable to encourage a behavior), negative reinforcement (removing something unpleasant to encourage a behavior), and punishment (adding or allowing an unpleasant result to discourage a behavior). For example, if you study hard and receive praise, that praise can reinforce the behavior. If you drive too fast and receive a ticket, the punishment is meant to reduce that behavior.
The term "operant" is chosen because the organism operates on its environment to produce a change. This is distinct from classical conditioning (like Pavlov's dogs), which involves passive, reflexive responses to stimuli. In operant conditioning, the subject is an active participant.
Outside psychology, "operant" can sometimes describe something that is active or having an effect, though this use is much less common. You might read about an "operant factor," meaning a factor that is actively producing a result. Still, in most modern contexts, especially in education, psychology, and behavior studies, the word points to the link between actions and the consequences that follow them.
Examples
- 1
Behavioral learning
The rat learned to press the lever through operant conditioning.
- Domainoperant conditioning
learning through rewards or consequences
- 2
Teaching techniques
Teachers often use operant techniques, such as giving praise when students try a new skill.
- 3
Psychology experiment
In Skinner’s experiments, pressing the lever was treated as an operant.
- Domainan operant
an action studied by how its results affect future behavior
See also
Similar
- instrumental
- consequence-shaped
- learned
Shades of meaning
Contrast
Used with (collocations)
- operant conditioning
- operant behavior
- operant response
Word family
Explore
Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- operantadjective