A Brief Description

BF Skinner (1904-1990) Operant conditioning is best seen in the work of B.F. Skinner (1904-1990). An extension of Thorndike's law of effect, an operant impacts a whole class of behavior, not just an individual response. Skinner's atheoretical approach relied heavily on animal research, operational definitions and replication. According to Skinner, the consequence which follows a response increases or decreases the likelihood of that response reoccurring. Reinforcement make the response more likely. Punishment has a temporary dampening effect on responses.