Classical Conditioning vs Operant Conditioning

What is the difference between classical conditioning and operant conditioning?

When it comes to training animals or forming habits, which type of conditioning is more effective? How do they differ in the way they shape behavior?

Answer:

Operant conditioning is the answer. The dogs learned that after they go on a walk they have to go sit in the kitchen to get a treat.

Classical conditioning happens when an individual learns to associate two stimuli. This happens when an association is learned between an unconditioned stimulus and a conditioned stimulus. For example, Ivan Pavlov's famous experiment, where dogs associated the ringing of a bell with food, leading them to salivate at the sound of the bell alone.

On the other hand, operant conditioning happens when an individual associates a behavior with a consequence. For example, when a behavior produces a good consequence, the individual is conditioned to repeat the behavior to gain the same good consequence, and vice versa. In the case of Eric's dogs, they associated going into the kitchen and sitting with receiving a treat, which is a form of operant conditioning.

While classical conditioning focuses on the association between stimuli, operant conditioning focuses on the association between behavior and consequences. Both types of conditioning play a role in learning and shaping behavior, but they operate in different ways. Classical conditioning is more passive, while operant conditioning is more active and based on consequences.