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Essay / Compare and contrast two methods of operant conditioning
I noticed shortly after we moved that she stopped eating breakfast unless someone was in the room with her. I needed to change this behavior, so I used Skinner's approach focusing on behavior and consequences. I anticipated the consequences of her eating breakfast by rubbing her belly, praising her, and giving her a treat after she ate her food. In this example, we have a response/stimulus association. Maggie realized that by eating her food, she would receive positive reinforcement encouraging her to continue eating her food. Maggie's behavior is voluntary; she chooses to eat her food for her own sake. Finally, Maggie was an active learner, she had to eat her food to receive praise and