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Compare and Contrast Classical and Operant Conditioning
Pavlov's theory of behaviorism
Compare and Contrast Classical and Operant Conditioning
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Classical conditioning and operant conditioning both played a key role in the history of the study of learning, but, as argued by B.F Skinner, there are key differences to be noted between the two (Gleitman, Gross, Reisberg, 2011). This essay will first explore what classical conditioning is by using Ivan Pavlov’s famous experiment with dogs to explain how it works. It will then go on to describe how classical conditioning led to more research by Edward L. Thorndike and B.F. Skinner in the study of instrumental behaviour (Gleitman et al. 2011). It will also mention briefly what similarities can be found between operant and classical conditioning before explaining in detail what operant conditioning is (Skinner’s experiment with the operant …show more content…
For example, imagine someone felt a puff of air hit their face. Their natural reaction would be to blink – this is called an unconditioned response (UR). But if they were to hear a horn just before they felt the puff of air, after repetition, they would blink when they heard the horn, to prepare themselves for the puff of air. In this scenario, blinking to the sound of the horn is the CR to the pairing of a CS (the horn) and an US (the puff of air) (Coon, 2005). These terms (CS, US, CR, UR), as well as the word “conditioning”, were first employed by Russian physiologist Ivan Pavlov (1849 – 1936), who originally studied the digestive system for which he won a Nobel prize in 1904 (Andrews, 2006). It was during these studies that Pavlov was led to the study of behaviour (behaviourism) and what is now known as classical (or pavlovian) …show more content…
2011, p281). Regardless of their differences or similarities however, both have played an important part in the study of learning. With operant conditioning allowing to condition more complex behaviours that can be done with classical conditioning, and with classical conditioning being what helped discover operant conditioning in the first place, it can be argued here that the two are complementary. Indeed, one cannot speak of operant conditioning without mentioning classical conditioning, and vice
The two main forms of conditioning, are classical conditioning (learning by association), and operant condition (learning from consequences).Classical conditioning, is the learning process in which one is conditioned (learns) to respond to a neutral stimulus as if it were a meaningful stimulus. In operant conditioning, learning occurs through associations made between a behavior and the consequence that follows.
Operant conditioning can be attributed with behaviorist Edward Thorndike and his Law of Effect, which states that behaviors associated with good consequences are more likely to occur again in the future, while behaviors associate with bad consequences are less likely to occur (EdPsych Modules, p. 161). Behaviorist B.F. Skinner expanded on these ideas to form a three phase model of operant conditioning known as The ABC’s
We focused on three main forms of learning; classical conditioning, operant conditioning, and observational learning. In classical conditioning, we focused on Pavlovian conditioning. Operant conditioning described the aspects of B.F. Skinner. In observation learning, we centered on Bandura’s four main ideas. Leaning is how we respond, act, and observe what is going on around us.
Ivan Pavlov developed a theory called classical conditioning which proposes that learning process occurs through associations between an environmental stimulus and a naturally occurring stimulus. Classical conditioning involves placing a neutral signal before a naturally occurring reflex like associating the food with the bell in Pavlov experiment. In classical conditioning, behavior is learnt by association where a stimulus that was originally neutral can become a trigger for substance use or cravings due to repeated associations between those stimuli and substance use (Pavlov, 1927).
John B. Watson came up with classical conditioning. This is when two different stimuli are paired together to create a desired response. Watson used the sound of a bell to classically condition dogs when a bell was rung. The sound of the bell is the neutral stimulus, the dogs salivating is the unconditioned response, and the food is the unconditioned stimulus. Once the dog associates the bell with the desired behavior the bell becomes the conditioned stimulus because the dog has
Learning in its most basic form is our minds associating one thing with another. Digging deeper reveals that there are trends in how human beings and animals learn by association, usually this is done by a brain connecting one event to another. The two different ways a brain tends to learn is through either classical conditioning or operant conditioning. Classical conditioning is learning to associate one stimulus with another stimulus, and Operant Conditioning is learning by associating a response or behavior with a consequence. Knowing how people and animals learn is an important piece of knowledge if one is to help benefit the greater good.
Classical conditioning is something that happens on a daily basis, it is a part of life. It can occur anywhere. Classical conditioning is a form of learning that occurs when two stimuli are presented, and then become associated with one another. In classical conditioning, two stimuli are linked in order to achieve a new behavior or response. There are three phases in the conditioning process; first, before starting the conditioning, there is an unconditioned stimulus (UCS) that initiates an unconditioned response (UCR). This stimulus creates a response that happens naturally. The second phase during the conditioning process, is that an additional stimulus is presented, this is known as the conditioned stimulus (CS).
In this example, every time that my friend has an urge to watch “Keeping up with the Kardashians” I am going to play the soundtrack of “It’s a Small World”. This combination should eventually condition my friend to be annoyed every time they think of “Keeping up with the Kardashians” rather than get excited to actually watch it. This process has then created a conditioned stimulus and a conditioned response. The once neutral stimulus becomes the conditioned stimulus. It triggers a conditioned reaction from an individual that is consistent and desired by the party that created it. The conditioned response is whatever the response created by the conditioned stimulus causes. This was the original goal of whoever began the classical conditioning, and causes the subject to act in a programmed way. In this example, the conditioned response is that my friend will no longer want to watch “Keeping up with the Kardashians” whenever they think about
Based on the research of B.F. Skinner, the operant conditioning method of learning is where the stimulus/experience transpires
This is selective reinforcement. Pavlov and his dogs were and excellent example of operant conditioning. Pavlov rang a bell when it was time for the dogs to eat; eventually the dogs associated the bell with food. Each time the bell rang the dogs salivated. On the other hand, N.Chomsky who was a nativist argued that children are born with a language acquisition device (LAD).
Behaviorism is the theoretical approach to learning that looks on the outside influences of an individual rather than the inside. Behaviorism reflects one’s observations and experiences of the environment along with the behaviors of others, not individual feelings and beliefs, (Ormrod, 2015). In other words, behaviorism is constructed on the basis of one’s learning through external factors that cause changes in knowledge and/or behavior. Behavioral learning is marked by conditioning of stimuli, (Ormrod, 2015). There are two types of conditioning, classical and operant. Classical conditioning occurs when one naturally responds to a stimulus. The most renowned example of this being Pavlov 's observation that dogs automatically salivate when food was presented. Pavlov decided do further examine the behavioral qualities of these dogs by produces a noise along with the presentation of the stimulus to encourage a reaction of salivation. Over time, Pavlov took the stimulus away and just rang the bell. He noted that even without the food, the bell would produce the reaction of salivation. Pavlov used this experiment to further his research and present the stimulus-response relationship in which the theory of behaviorism embodies. Operant conditioning arises ...
There are many differences and similarities between each of these learning processes. For example, classical conditioning involves only involuntary or reflex responses where as operant conditioning involves both involuntary and voluntary reflexes. These different learning processes can be used independently in many different situations. Where Classical conditioning may be more effective in one situation it may be useless in another. For this reason each of these learning processes, Classical and operant conditioning, and observational and insight learning are each as important and effective as the other.
(Porter. B., 2013) unconditional stimulus would mean noise. Every Time the child hears that loud clashing sound the bar hitting the steel, it would cause the child to have abnormal breathing showing that he was terrified & was feared of the white rat and the steel bar. (Porter. B., 2013) Conditioned stimulus would represent The Rat the sounds repeats itself, after the unconditional stimulus it would let the child know that both sounds go together. (Porter. B., 2013). The child would always cry a lot when these noises kept coming back to back .This would be consider the Conditioned response which related to Crying and Fear. This would be the response from comparing the two together the white rat and the steel bar and trying educated the child that both theses go
Learning is defined as a “process of change that occurs as a result of an individual’s experience” (Mazure, 2006). Researchers assume that the process of learning follows certain general principles, which were developed, into the general process learning theories. These include operant conditioning and classical conditioning which has been put forward by leading psychologists like Pavlov, B.F.Skinner and Thorndike. However, in learning, operant and classical conditoning are opposed by biological constraints that state that there are limitations to the theories. Some of these biological constraints on learning will be discussed below.
John Watson was the founder of behaviorism in the Unites States. He extended classical conditioning by accounting for a greater variety of learning. Watson formulated two ...