Psychologists have designed applications of Pavlov's principles of classical conditioning to improve human health and well being in multiple contexts, motivation, emotion therapy for psychological disorders and end health problems. For Example: Former crack cocaine users often feel a craving when they encounter cues associated with previous highs. Drug counselors advise addicts to steer clear of settings associated with the euphoria of previous drug use.
Operant conditioning the organism associates its operant behaviors with their consequences. B.F. Skinner and other researchers found that the behavior of rats or pigeons placed in a Skinner box canned be shaped by rewarding closer and closer approximations of the desired behavior. Skinner used shaping a procedure in which reinforcers, such as food gradually guide an animals behavior toward a desired behavior. By making rewards contingent on desired behaviors, researchers and animal trainers gradually shape complex behaviors.
A positive reinforcer may be a tangible reward, it may be praise or attention. It may be an activity; being able to use the car when the dishes are done. Anything that serves to strengthen behavior as a reinforcer. Primary and conditioned reinforcers, getting food or being relieved of electric shock, are innately satisfying. Conditioned reinforcers also called secondary reinforcers are learned. Immediate responses is what a hungry rat will respond to when food is released right after the behavior. Humans do respond to reinforcers that are greatly delayed, such as the paycheck at the end of the week. Continuous reinforcers are reinforced every time the behavior occurs. Partial reinforcement, the response is sometimes reinforced and sometimes not. Fixed ratio schedules reinforce behaviors after a set number of responses. Variable ratio schedules provide reinforcers that are an unpredictable number of responses. Fixed interval schedules reinforce the time period.
