GCSE Psychology 9-1

Psychology 9-1 GCSE -  6.1.1 - Understand learning theories as an explanation of criminality, including strengths and weaknesses of each theory: Operant Conditioning (Skinner, 1948) - a) Positive Reinforcement -  This strengthens behavior by providing a consequence an individual finds rewarding. He used a rat in a box to prove this with a lever that released food. b) Negative Reinforcement -  The removal of an unpleasant reinforce can also strengthen behavior. This is known as negative reinforcement because it is the removal of adverse stimulus.  c) Positive Punishment -  Positive punishment removes a positive reinforce to weaken a response.  d) Negative Punishment -  This is applying an unpleasant stimulus to weaken a response. e) Primary Reinforcers -  There is no learning necessary for these to be reinforcing. These are things like eating, sleeping etc. f) Secondary Reinforcers -  This ...