Answer to Question #238862 in Psychology for Holi

Question

What is the role of operant conditioning in our development of reading skills? How do these skills become stronger and more “automatic”?

Answer 1

Operant conditioning is a learning method that employs punishments and rewards for certain behavior. This method creates an association between a consequence and a behavior. In reading skills development, operant conditioning can be in use by offering candy or allowing children to play with their friends after completing a reading. The presence of the reward will increase their chances of reading more often. It will lead to more practice of their reading skills since they need the award. With time, the reading skills will become stronger and automatic as they will practice more often. The more time and practice spent on a skill, it eventually becomes more automatic to the brain. The best example is board skating. An individual can never unlearn board skating since more time is required while practicing and it becomes automating to the brain.