Operant Conditioning

In chapter 6, the topic was different types of learning. Some types of learning are classical conditioning using conditioned and unconditioned stimuli and responses, operant conditioning using reinforcements, and observational learning. During the chapter we watched a lecture about autism and how operant conditioning could be used to help teach autistic new tasks by giving them reinforcements such as food, kisses, and praise when they did what they were told, but received no reinforcement when they threw tantrums and used aggression.
I thought that this video was really interesting to see how the treatment was performed because I have a cousin who is autistic and I have been able to see first hand how he has progressed. When he was little he wouldn’t communicate with anyone, instead he would scream and would run from one thing to another. Over the years of treatment he has developed many skills. Now he is twelve and can communicates with everyone and does not stop talking. For example, during family get togethers, he fixates of one thing and obsesses about it. For him, he goes to every person he has seen before and says “hey, I know you,” and he can remember where he has seen you before and will keep talking about how he knows you until he sees another person that he remembers. He is also able to attend school with normal students and keeps learning everyday. His therapists have used operant conditioning to allow him to associate with others and build skills to help him become more independent.