The SORKC Model: An Extension of Operant Conditioning
What is the SORKC Model?
The SORKC model is an extension of operant conditioning that was developed by Frederick H. Kanfer and Gary Saslow in 1969. It is a framework for understanding and changing problem behaviors.
How Does the SORKC Model Work?
The SORKC model consists of five components:
- Stimulus: The event or situation that triggers the behavior.
- Organism: The person or animal that exhibits the behavior.
- Response: The behavior itself.
- Consequences: The events or situations that follow the behavior.
- Contingency: The relationship between the response and the consequences.
The SORKC model suggests that problem behaviors are maintained by a cycle of antecedent and consequent events. For example, a child who throws a tantrum to get attention may receive positive reinforcement (attention) from their parents. This positive reinforcement increases the likelihood that the child will throw tantrums in the future.
How Can the SORKC Model Be Used to Change Problem Behavior?
The SORKC model can be used to change problem behaviors by identifying the antecedents and consequences that are maintaining the behavior and then intervening to break the cycle.
For example, in the case of the child who throws tantrums to get attention, the antecedent (situation) is the child not getting attention, and the consequence (reinforcement) is the child receiving attention. To break the cycle, the parents could provide attention to the child when they are not throwing a tantrum, and they could ignore the child's tantrums.
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