Comparison Of Operant & Classical Conditioning

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Differences Between Operant and Classical Conditioning

1) In classical conditioning, the conditional behavior (CR) is triggered by the particular stimulus (CS) and is therefore called an elicited behavior. Operant behavior is an emitted behavior in the sense that it occurs in a situation containing many stimuli and seems to be initiated by the organism. In a sense the subject chooses when and how to respond.

2) In classical conditioning, behavior (CR) is affected by something that occurs before the behavior (the CS-UCS pairing). In contrast, the operant response is affected by what happens after the behavior – that is by its consequences.

Positive Reinforcement

Any stimulus or event that increases the likelihood of the occurrence of a behavior that it follows.

Shaping

Shaping is the method of successive approximations. Shaping reinforces the behaviors as they get closer and closer to the desired behavior.

Negative Reinforcement

Negative Reinforcement is anything that increases a behavior that results in the reinforcers removal.

Punishment

Any consequence that decreases the future occurrence of a behavior that produces it.

When You Remove a Positive Stimulus

Extinction
If the stimulus is a reinforcer for the behavior (e.g., parent ignores child/withdraws attention when child acts up to get attention)
Response Cost
If the stimulus is not a reinforcer for the behavior (e.g., parent takes away child's TV privileges when child acts up to get attention)

Operant Conditioning Consequences

	Presentation	Removal
_ + Positive Stimuli	Positive Reinforcement (ie: praise, A+, money) Increases Behavior	Extinction or Response Cost (ie: withdrawal of praise, A+, or money) Decreases Behavior
Aversive Stimuli	Punishment (ie: spanking or electric shock) Decreases Behavior	Negative Reinforcement (ie: smoking or removal of shock) Increases Behavior