Classical vs Operant conditioning

Elements that CC & OC have in

common

Elements of CC & OC that are clearly

differentExtinction Role of learner

Spontaneous recovery Timing of stimulus

Stimulus discrimination Timing of response

Stimulus generalisation Nature response

Acquisition

Classical vs Operant conditioningClassical

conditioningOperant

conditioning

Nature of response

Timing of Stimulus

Timing of Response

Role of learner

Voluntary (usually) but can be both – Vol &

Involuntary

After the desired response

ActivePassive

Precedes the response

Involuntary (reflexive)

After the stimulus Before the stimulus

Nature of response• In C.C response is usually reflexive or

involuntary eg. Salivating or blinking• O.C the response is more active &

voluntary eg. Pressing a leaver or putting up an umbrella

• In C.C the response often involves the action of the autonomic nervous system & the association of 2 stimuli (which is not conscious)

• In O.C, the response is more likely to involve the Central nervous system (brain) and is conscious, intentional & often goal directed

• i.e. the individual is more likely to produce the desired response if the consequence is good and less likely if the consequence is punishment

Timing of Stimulus/ Response• CC; the response (eg. Salivation) depends

on the presentation of the UCS (meat powder) occurring first

• OC; the presentation of the reinforcer (eg. Food) depends on the response (pressing lever) occurring first. The reinforcement strengthens (food) strengthens the stimulus-response association

• CC; the timing of the 2 stimuli (CS then UCS) needs to very close (ideally 0.5 second), but the CS must come before the UCS so that the animal/person can learn to associate the stimuli eg. Ring the bell, just before presenting the food to build the association

• OC; the learning occurs faster when reinforcement or punishment occurs soon after the behaviour. But there can be a considerable time difference between them (for humans in particular)

Role of the Learner• CC, the learner is relatively passive

when the CS or UCS is presented, i.e. the response elicited by the learner occurs automatically without any effort (i.e. a reflex)

• OC, the learner must actively operate on the environment to obtain the reinforcement or punishment. The learner is not reinforced or punished without performing the behaviour that produces that consequence

Other differences between Classical & Operant conditioning

Classical conditioning Operant conditioning

No substitution takes place

1 reinforcer can be used to strengthen a variety of responses eg.

money for lawnmowing, running laps

Reponses associated with goal-seeking behaviour are primarily

involved

Emotions such as fear are associated with the

autonomic N.S (for humans)

1 reinforcer elicits only 1 type of response – i.e. food leads

to salivation

1 stimulus substitutes for another