The concept of operant level is a cornerstone of behavioral psychology, which has been studied extensively since its inception in the late nineteenth century. This concept refers to the degree of reinforcement or punishment that an individual receives in response to a particular behavior. Specifically, it is the amount of reinforcement or punishment that needs to be applied in order to maintain or change a behavior. This article will explore the concept of operant level, its implications, and its applications in the field of psychology.
Operant level was first introduced by American psychologist B.F. Skinner in the late 1930s (Skinner, 1938). He argued that operant conditioning, or the modification of behavior through rewards and punishment, was the most effective way to influence an individual’s behavior. Skinner proposed that operant level was determined by the intensity of the reinforcement or punishment, and that it could be used to maintain or modify behavior.
In order to understand the concept of operant level, it is important to distinguish between primary and secondary reinforcement. Primary reinforcement refers to rewards or punishments that are directly related to the behavior in question, such as food or praise. Secondary reinforcement, on the other hand, refers to rewards or punishments that are unrelated to the behavior in question, such as money or praise. Both primary and secondary reinforcement can be used to modify behavior, but the intensity of reinforcement needed to do so depends on the operant level.
The concept of operant level has far-reaching implications for the modification and maintenance of behavior. For example, it can be used to create an environment of effective learning. By increasing or decreasing reinforcement or punishment depending on the operant level, an individual’s behavior can be effectively modified. Additionally, the concept of operant level can be used to better understand the behavior of animals, as well as humans.
The concept of operant level has also been used in the field of education. Many teachers use operant level to modify the behavior of their students, by providing rewards or punishments depending on the level of reinforcement or punishment needed to maintain or change the behavior in question. Additionally, operant level has been used to study the effects of different types of reinforcement on behavior, such as positive reinforcement or punishment (McCallum & Molloy, 2018).
In conclusion, operant level is a fundamental concept in the field of behavioral psychology, which has far-reaching implications for the understanding and modification of behavior. By understanding the concept of operant level, psychologists, educators, and researchers can better understand and modify behavior.
References
McCallum, M. M., & Molloy, C. (2018). Operant level: A review of its applications in educational settings. Educational Psychology Review, 30(4), 605–621. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10648-018-9417-7
Skinner, B. F. (1938). The behavior of organisms: An experimental analysis. New York, NY: Appleton-Century-Crofts.