Operant Conditioningย is a learning process through which theย frequencyย of aย behaviorย is modified by its consequences. Positive or negative outcomes following aย behaviorย can either increase (reinforce) or decrease (punish) the likelihood of thatย behaviorย being repeated in the future.
Example
A student who answers questions correctly in class receives praise from the teacher. As a result, the student is more likely to participate and answer questions in the future because the positive consequence (praise) increases the likelihood of theย behaviorย (participation) being repeated. Conversely, if a student receives a detention for being late to class, they may be less likely to arrive late again in the future, as the negative consequence (detention) decreases the undesiredย behaviorย (lateness).