What is “operant conditioning” in the context of behavioral therapy?

Operant conditioning, within the framework of behavioral therapy, refers to a learning process whereby an individual's behavior is influenced and modified by the consequences that follow it, specifically through reinforcement or punishment. This concept was pioneered by B.F. Skinner and is grounded in the idea that behaviors that are followed by favorable consequences are likely to be repeated, while those followed by unfavorable consequences are less likely to occur.

Reinforcement can be positive, where a rewarding outcome follows a behavior, or negative, where a negative outcome is removed following a desired behavior. Punishment, on the other hand, involves introducing an adverse consequence or taking away a rewarding stimulus to decrease the likelihood of a behavior reoccurring.

In the context of behavioral therapy, operant conditioning is utilized to shape desired behaviors in clients, often through systematic and controlled reinforcement strategies, making it a foundational principle for various interventions aimed at behavioral modification.