B.3 Identify and Distinguish Between Respondent and Operant Conditioning

Respondent Conditioning (Classical or Pavlovian)

Involves learning through association. A neutral stimulus is paired with a stimulus that naturally produces a response. Over time, the neutral stimulus alone triggers the same response.

Examples:

• A dog salivates when hearing a bell because the bell has been associated with food.

• A person feels anxious upon seeing a spider because spiders are associated with fear.

• A child cries when hearing thunder because thunder is associated with fear.

Operant Conditioning

Focuses on learning through consequences. The probability of a behavior being repeated increases or decreases based on its consequences.

Examples:

• A child receives a reward for good behavior and is more likely to behave well in the future.

• A student who receives a poor grade for not doing homework is less likely to skip homework again.

• An employee gets a raise for increasing sales and is more likely to work harder.

Both respondent and operant conditioning are critical learning processes that shape behavior. While respondent conditioning relies on associations, operant conditioning depends on consequences.