| Term | Classical Conditioning | Operant Conditioning |
|---|
| The Link | Links different stimuli, often through repeated pairings. | Links behavior to its consequence, often through repeated pairings. |
| Response | Involuntary behavior. | Voluntary behavior. |
| Acquisition | The initial learning phase. | The initial learning phase. |
| Extinction | The process by which the conditioned response decreases after repeated exposure to the conditioned stimulus in the absence of the unconditioned stimulus. | The disappearance of a learned behavior through the removal of its reinforcer. |
| Spontaneous Recovery | Following extinction, with the presentation of the conditioned stimulus after a rest period, the conditioned response reappears. | Following extinction due to the absence of reinforcers, the behavior reemerges in a similar setting. |
| These fundamental learning concepts apply to both classical and operant conditioning. |