Compare the acquisition procedures in classical and operant conditioning. What is the essential difference between the two types of conditioning?

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

In classical conditioning, a neutral stimulus is repeatedly paired with an unconditioned stimulus. Eventually, a new response emerges and occurs each time the conditioned stimulus appears. The target behavior occurs after the stimulus has occurred. The procedure sets up a contingency between two stimuli and is most effective when one stimulus serves as a reliable signal that the second stimulus will occur. In operant conditioning, a specific response produces a consequence (a reinforcer or a punisher). In positive reinforcement, for example, the subject must make the target response before the reinforcer will be present. Similarly, in punishment, an aversive stimulus is contingent on performance of a specific response. Thus, in operant conditioning, the target behavior occurs before the consequence (the reinforcer or punisher) and causes the reinforcer or punisher to occur. In classical conditioning, the behavior of the person or the animal in no way affects the presentation of the stimuli; in this case, the behavior is a response to the stimuli that are already present.