Universal Principles of Design, Revised and Updated

Operant Conditioning

A technique used to modify behavior by reinforcing desired behaviors, and ignoring or punishing undesired behaviors.1

Operant conditioning is probably the most researched and well-known technique used to modify behavior. The technique involves increasing or decreasing a particular behavior by associating the behavior with a positive or negative condition (e.g., rewards or punishments). Operant conditioning is commonly applied to animal training, instructional design, video game design, incentive programs, gambling devices, counseling, and behavioral therapy. It is also finding increased application in artificial intelligence. There are three basic operant conditioning techniques: positive reinforcement, negative reinforcement, ...