Classical Conditioning vs. Operant Conditioning

Hi there everyone!!!!!!

Today seems a good day to learn more about behaviorist theory, don't you think?

So, let's take a look in these two important concepts: Classical Conditioning and Operant conditioning. Although both have learning as a common result, their processes are quite different. Classical Conditioning is related to the association between a naturally existing stimulus and a previously neutral one. For instance, in Pavlov's experiment with dogs, the food is a natural stimulus and the bell is previously a neutral stimulus.

CLASSICAL CONDITIONING

Classical conditioning was created by Ivan Pavlov and later its concept was developed by John Watson, and it is divided in phases: before conditioning, during conditioning, and after conditiong. The first phase consists on the knowledge about what are the unconditioned stimulus and what are the unconditioned results expected, for example, salivating in response to the smell of food is a natural occurring stimulus. The second phase occurs when is established a association between the previous neutral stimulus and the natural response, that is, the dog associates the sound of the bell with the ideia of being fed, at this moment, the neutral stimulus becomes known as the conditioned stimulus because the dog has now been conditioned to respond to the neutral stimulus as well. The third, and last phase, happens when the the conditioned stimulus alone will come to evoke a response even without the unconditioned stimulus, for example, the dog start to salivate after hear the ring of the bell even when there is no food on sight.

OPERANT CONDITIONING

Operant conditioning was developed by B. F. Skinner and it consists on the use of reinforcement (good stimulus) and punishment (bad stimulus) to create associations between behaviors and the consequences for those behaviors. The ideia was to observe how the consequences of people's actions influenced their behavior. Then, Skinner established two differente types of behaviors: respondent behaviors and operant behaviors. The fisrt type refers to those behaviors that you do not have to learn or think about them, they happen automatically and involuntarilly, for example, pulling back your hand from a hot stove. Although, the second type are those under our conscious control, they are influenced by the kind of reinforcement that we receive (a posivive or negative reinforcement), and influenced also by the kind of punisment (positive or a negative punishment). The reinforcements and punishments will guide the increase or decrease of behaviors.

Well, what about a short video to explain more about it? I hope you enjoy it!