The word "conditioning" makes people think of rats or salivating dogs. But the principles of classical conditioning and operant conditioning apply to people as well as animals, and those principles can help us understand our everyday behavior.
On the following screens, you will read about four people who have been conditioned to behave in certain ways. We will decide whether each situation is an example of classical or operant conditioning.
Conditioned Preferences for Clothing
Current situation: Maria, age 34, has many sweaters. But when she dresses for work, she prefers wearing a particular blue sweater. The compliments she received reinforced her voluntary decision to wear the sweater.
Is Maria's preference the result of classical conditioning or operant conditioning?
This is an example of operant conditioning.
The first time Maria wore that new blue sweater to office, several people commented favorably on her appearance, so now she chooses to wear that sweater more often. The compliments she received reinforced her voluntary decision to wear that sweater.
Conditioned Emotional Reaction to a Song
Current situation: Paul is 22. Whenever Paul hears the Beatles' song "Hey Jude," he feels sad and discouraged. He leaves the room to avoid having to listen to the song. Paul has associated the song with the breakup of his relationship.
Is Paul's emotional reaction more likely the result of classical conditioning or operant conditioning?
This is an example of classical conditioning.
Paul was deeply involved in a high school romance ended abruptly. While the couple was listening to “Hey Jude,” they got a terrible argument and the romance ended abruptly. Paul has associated the song with the break-up of his relationship.
Conditioned Misbehavior in Class
Current situation: Jeremy, age 7, frequently "acts up" in class and disrupts the learning activities by making humorous gestures and noises. Unfortunately for the teacher, the attention Jeremy received from his classmates served as reinforcement rather than punishment for his behavior.
Is Jeremy's disruptive behavior more likely the result of classical conditioning or operant conditioning?
This is an example of operant conditioning.
The first time Jeremy misbehaved, the teacher “punished” him by making him sit in the front corner of the room. Unfortunately for teacher, the attention Jeremy received from his classmates served as reinforcement rather than punishment for his behavior.
Conditioned Fear of Nurses
Current situation: Molly, age 18, feels anxious and apprehensive as soon as she enters the university health clinic. She experiences this fear more strongly if the campus nurse is wearing a white lab coat. The sights and smells of the doctor’s office, and especially the presence of the nurse, became associated with the pain of the injections.
Is Molly's fear more likely the result of classical conditioning or operant conditioning?
This is an example of classical conditioning.
As a child, Molly had to go to a doctor’s office frequently for vaccinations and allergy shots. The sights and smells of the doctor’s office, and especially the presence of the nurse, became associated with the pain of the injections.
Once you have a firm grasp of classical and operant conditioning, you possess a powerful set of tools for understanding and influencing everyday behavior. Let's review the difference between these two forms of associative learning. Classical conditioning generally concerns an involuntary, automatic response such as blinking, salivating, or becoming anxious. A stimulus (the unconditioned stimulus or US) that always produces the involuntary response (the unconditioned response or UR) is paired with a neutral stimulus (the conditioned stimulus or CS). After a number of pairings, the formerly neutral stimulus becomes capable of producing the response (the conditioned response or CR). In contrast, operant conditioning generally concerns more voluntary behaviors, such as pressing a button, turning a key, or raising your hand. Classical conditioning involves learning an association between two stimulus events that you can’t control, whereas operant conditioning involves learning an association between your behavior and its consequences.