Operants

Operants are behaviors that are influenced by their consequences, meaning the likelihood of a behavior happening again depends on what happens afterward. If a behavior is followed by a positive outcome (like a reward), it’s more likely to occur again. Conversely, if it results in a negative outcome (like a punishment), it’s less likely to be repeated. This concept, from operant conditioning, explains how our actions are shaped by the results they produce, helping us learn new behaviors or modify existing ones based on reinforcement or consequences.