Instrumental Conditioning. This paper will describe the learning situation of learning to ride a bicycle and provide clarification of how positive and negative reinforcement are similar and what distinguishes them

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Instrumental Conditioning

Instrumental conditioning is the behavior by which an individual modifies its surroundings. The specific illustrations of behaviors that create a consequence are known as a response. The classes of these responses which have a distinctive consequence are known as operant classes. Additionally, these responses function based upon the environment. For instance, a rat may have several responses to pushing the lever. By trial and error the rat will eventually figure out that by pressing the lever, it will get a reward of food. For example, it may use its paw, sit down, or other ways to get the lever pushed down. The responses could be either positive or negative or both. Robert Thorndike was the first to envision the concept of instrumental conditioning (Gould, 2008).

This paper will describe the learning situation of learning to ride a bicycle and provide clarification of how positive and negative reinforcement are similar and what distinguishes them. In addition, examples will be given of positive and negative reinforcement that can be used in this situation. Lastly, this paper will offer an explanation of the ways reward and punishment may be and evaluate which type of instrumental conditioning