VCE Psychology - Operant Conditioning Lyrics

Skinner's the name in the mix,
1930s hit the scene with his behavioral tricks.
Operant Conditioning, the science of choice,
Where consequences speak louder than any voice.

The A, B, C's, yeah, that's the process we're on,
Antecedent leads to behavior, then consequence is drawn.
The antecedent's the setup, the scene, the cue,
Signals what's coming next, shaping what you do.

Behavior? That's your move, the action you make,
Voluntary steps in the path you take.
The consequence follows, it's the impact it brings,
Reinforce or punish, yeah, it's all in the strings.

A to B to C, it's the operant flow,
Consequence decides where your actions will go.
Reinforce or punish, the choice is clear,
Behavior shaped by the outcomes near.

Reinforcement's the tool to boost what you do,
Strengthens your response, makes it stick like glue.
Positive adds something you're happy to gain,
A treat for the effort, reward for the strain.

Negative takes away what you don't want around,
Relief from the pressure, freedom you've found.
Both drive your actions, increase the repeat,
Reinforcement's the engine that keeps it sweet.

But punishment? That's to weaken or stop,
Drop the behavior, make the habit flop.
Positive punishment adds pain to the game,
Like a slap on the wrist, making it plain.

Negative punishment takes the good away,
Privileges lost, and the fun won't stay.
Reinforce or punish, it's how we learn,
Behavior's the fire, and consequences burn.

A to B to C, it's the operant flow,
Consequence decides where your actions will go.
Reinforce or punish, the choice is clear,
Behavior shaped by the outcomes near.

Timing's the key, don't delay the effect,
Deliver it quick, or the link won't connect.
Order's essential, consequence comes last,
If it's flipped, the learning won't hold fast.

Appropriateness counts, it's gotta fit the scene,
Tailor the strategy, keep it routine.
Skinner taught us the rules, now we've got the map,
Shaping behavior, it's the reinforcement trap.

So here's the science, the A, B, C's in play,
Antecedent sets the stage, behavior's underway.
Consequences decide how the story unfolds,
Operant Conditioning, learning controlled.