A Breakdown of Operant Versus Classical Conditioning

While operant versus classical conditioning are associative learning methods from behavioral theories, they diverge in their responses/stimulus, behavior focus (voluntary or involuntary), and elements.

In high school, when one is late, they get detention; if they pass exams, they get a reward; or when the bell rings, it is break time.

The relation of these events to either punishment or reward are reactions that happen through learning or conditioning. This concept is under behavioral psychology or behavioral conditioning, a theory that studies the human mind through observing behavior (Walinga).

Psychologists Ivan Pavlov and B.F Skinner conducted experiments and researches to demonstrate that behaviors are developed through learning or conditioning. Ivan Pavlov created the classical conditioning learning process focusing on involuntary behaviors, while B.F. Skinner built on his theory and created operant conditioning that relates a specific behavior to positive or negative reinforcement (Walinga).

In his experiment, Ivan Pavlov used dogs; hence his conditioning is commonly referred to as “Pavlov’s Dogs” (Walinga).

Classical Conditioning

Ivan Pavlov was studying digestive patterns in dogs and accidentally stumbled upon classical conditioning.

While feeding them to measure the bodily fluid of their organs, he realized they began to salivate before being fed and when they saw the person who usually fed them. After abandoning the digestive pattern research, Pavlov began studying this new behavior (Walinga).

He also rang a bell before feeding the dogs, and with time, the dogs associated the ringing with feeding time and eventually salivated when they heard the bell ring. He then formed classical conditioning learning that believed organisms adjust their responses according to environmental stimuli/ events or perceived stimuli (Michael 3).

Pavlov believed that learning is by association hence forming classical conditioning.

The conditioning has five elements which include (Stangor and Walinga).:

1. Neutral stimulus (N.S.): This is a stimulus/event with no reaction at first unless repeated. An example: if Pavlov had not continually rung the bell every day before feeding the dogs, they would not have salivated when they heard the bell ring.
2. Unconditioned stimulus (U.S.): This is something that triggers an immediate response. In Pavlov’s experiment with dogs, it would be food
3. Unconditioned response (U.R.): The response followed by the Unconditioned Stimulus. An example from Pavlov’s experiment is salivating of the dogs after smelling the food.
4. Conditioned stimulus (C.S.): This is a stimulus associated with the unconditioned stimulus. In Pavlov’s experiment, the sound of the bell made the dogs salivate before presenting them with food.
5. Conditioned response (C.R.): This response is taught/conditioned to happen through the neutral stimulus. The dogs were conditioned to salivate when the bell was rung, with and without the presence of food.

The diagram below shows before, during, and after the conditioning process

Clinical Significance of Classical Conditioning

Psychologists and behaviorists have used Classical conditioning for learning or treating purposes. According to Rehman et al.,

1. Used clinically by counselors when advising former users of drugs to avoid people who might trigger their desire to abuse drugs.
2. In the reconditioning behaviors in therapy, psychologists applied classical conditioning. For example, the theory was used in therapy for bed-wetters whose bladders relaxed after repeatedly waking up when an alarm set off after releasing a liquid on their beds.
3. In two counterconditioning techniques; exposure and aversive therapy, the conditioning was applied

Operant Conditioning

B.F. Skinner discovered operant conditioning., a behaviorist (Wahome).

The learning in this conditioning occurs when a behavior or action results in rewards or reinforcements, either negative or positive. This conditioning is mainly used in schools, training children or dogs to new or bad habits (Stangor and Walinga).

Skinner based his theory on Thorndike’s law of effect. Edward L. Thorndike was also a scientist who thoroughly studied operant conditioning. The law of effect states that a positive behavior that results in pleasant consequences will likely happen again (Stangor and Walinga).

He classified behaviors into two types, respondent and operant (Stangor and Walinga). An example of a scenario is when a child plays with a knife for the first time, and it cuts them the next time; the child is likely to avoid playing with the knife because they know they will get hurt.

Another example is a dog that does the trick nicely, knowing its owner will award it a treat. Positive reinforcement gives a pleasant response, and negative reinforcement removes or reduces an unpleasant thing or situation.

Classical conditioning has four quadrants, including the two reinforcements.

1. Positive reinforcement: This element adds an affirmative stimulus which results in the strengthening of the behavior. An example can be petting a dog after it has fetched a bone.
2. Positive punishment: Adding an undesirable stimulus to remove or weaken a behavior. An example is scolding a child because they ignored homework which is undesirable behavior, or receiving a ticket because of speeding.
3. Negative reinforcement: Removing an undesirable stimulus that will result in the strengthening of the behavior. An example is an adult cleaning his room every week to avoid bed bugs which is an undesirable event. Another example is a child arriving at school early to avoid getting detention.
4. Negative punishment is removing or reducing a pleasant stimulus to weaken a behavior. For example, thieves are taken to prison for stealing, or a girl will not go for a sleepover with her friend because she missed curfew. All these are pleasant stimulus that helps avoid bad behavior.

Difference Between Operant and Classical Conditioning

Classical Conditioning	Operant Conditioning
An involuntary response happens and stimulus	Results in voluntary behavior
The stimulus comes first	The behavior is first
There are no consequences	the behavior and action result in punishment or reward
The organism passively participates	Learners actively participates in the action

Conclusion

Classical and operant conditioning are learning methods developed by Ivan Pavlov and B.F. Skinner in the quest to study human behavior. Both theories are associative learning methods developed from behavioral psychology.

Despite their similarity, they are different in their responses, voluntary and involuntary response, and their elements. Classical conditioning results in an involuntary response and stimulus, while operant leads to a voluntary behavior associated with either a reward or punishment.

Classical conditioning has five elements; neutral stimulus, conditioned stimulus, unconditioned response, the conditioned stimulus, and conditioned response.

Operant conditioning has four quadrants: negative punishment, negative reinforcement, positive punishment, and positive reinforcement.

Works Cited

Koblin, Jonas. “Skinner’s Operant Conditioning: Rewards & Punishments.” 22 January 2021. Sprouts Schools. <https://sproutsschools.com/operant-conditioning/>.

Michael, Tanja. “Classical Conditioning.” Enhancing Exposure and Extinction (Triple E) (2017): 7.

Rehman, Ibraheem, et al. “Classical Conditioning.” National Library of Medicine (2021). <https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK470326/>.

Stangor, Charles and Jennifer Walinga. “8.1 Learning by Association: Classical Conditioning.” Stangor, Charles and Jennifer Walinga. Introduction to Psychology – 1st Canadian Edition. BCcampus, 2014. <https://opentextbc.ca/introductiontopsychology/chapter/7-1-learning-by-association-classical-conditioning/>.

Wahome, Cyrus. “What Is Operant Conditioning?” 27 April 2022. WebMD. <https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/what-is-operant-conditioning#:~:text=Operant%20conditioning%2C%20sometimes%20referred%20to,is%20punished%20will%20rarely%20occur.>.

Walinga, Jennifer. “2.3 Behaviourist Psychology.” Stangor, Charles and Jennifer Walinga. Introduction to Psychology – 1st Canadian Edition. BCcampus, 2014. <https://opentextbc.ca/introductiontopsychology/chapter/2-3-behaviourist-psychology/>.

Entrust your assignments to our expert writers for excellent results!

Eagle Academics prides itself in providing quality custom papers for many students around the world. We guarantee exceptional standards, and this is based on the selection of highly professional and experienced tutors and writers in different fields. Our experts can handle any work regardless of the deadline.

You must choose what you do with your time. Let our experts help you with your schoolwork while you focus on other essential things in your life. Talk to us, and we will give you the help that you need.