Comparing Classical and Operant Conditioning

Type of behavior

Source of behavior

Basis of learning

Responses conditioned

Extinction process

Cognitive aspects

Biological predispositions

Classical Conditioning

Reflexive, involuntary behaviors

Elicited by stimulus

Associating two stimuli: CS + DCS

Physiological and emotional responses

Conditioned response decreaseswhen conditioned stimulus isrepeatedly presented alone

Expectation that CS reliablypredicts the UCS

Innate predispositions influence how easilyan association is formed between a particularstimulus and response

Operant Conditioning

Nonreflexive, voluntary behaviors

Emitted by organism

Associating a response and theconsequence that follows it

Active behaviors that operate onthe environment

Responding decreases withelimination of reinforcingconsequences

Performance of behaviorinfluenced by the expectationof reinforcement or punishment

Behaviors similar to natural orinstinctive behaviors are morereadily conditioned