Although Skinner initially focused on learning, he later expanded the concept into a broader theory of behavior known as the three-component system. In this view, behavior results from a series of interactions between internal states (the “stimulus”), responses (the “response”), and the environment (the “reinforcer”). In this context, the “environment” refers to any situation that provides a cue for the behavior. In Skinner’s view, the key to successful reinforcement lies in the ability to create positive stimuli that elicit desired responses, and negative stimuli that prevent undesirable ones.
Unlike classical conditioning, where the emphasis is on shaping and controlling behavior, operant conditioning offers an explanation of how animals acquire skills through experience. In Skinner’s view, the emphasis is on learning, not instruction or training. He proposed that learners actively participate in shaping their own responses to stimuli. However, Skinner recognized that his ideas about positive reinforcement were valuable to education. An inveterate tinkerer, he invented a “teaching machine” that allowed students to learn through a series of steps. At the conclusion of each step, students would receive positive feedback for correct answers. The same concept was later applied to many educational software programs. Skinner also developed an educational program along similar lines, which was widely accepted in schools in the U.S. and elsewhere. Teachers encouraged their students by providing positive feedback at each step of their courses.
