What is the primary focus of operant conditioning?

The primary focus of operant conditioning is on how behaviors are influenced by their consequences, particularly through rewards and punishments. This form of learning, developed by B.F. Skinner, emphasizes the idea that behaviors can be increased or decreased based on the outcomes that follow them. When a behavior is followed by a reward, it is likely to be strengthened, whereas if it is followed by a punishment, that behavior is likely to be weakened or diminished. This mechanism underlies many aspects of behavior modification and is critical for understanding how organisms learn from their interactions with the environment.

In contrast, the formation of reflexes pertains more to classical conditioning, where a neutral stimulus becomes associated with a reflexive response without the involvement of rewards or punishments. The establishment of conditioned responses is also a hallmark of classical conditioning, where an unconditioned stimulus becomes linked to a conditioned stimulus. The creation of instinctual behaviors is related to innate behaviors that do not require learning and are instead biologically driven. Thus, operant conditioning is distinctly characterized by its focus on the consequences of voluntary actions rather than involuntary reflexes or instinctual responses.