Psychology – AS Level approaches | e-Consult
AS Level approaches (1 questions)
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Both classical and operant conditioning are forms of associative learning, but they differ in the nature of the association formed.
| Aspect | Classical Conditioning | Operant Conditioning |
| Nature of association | Stimulus‑stimulus (neutral stimulus paired with an unconditioned stimulus) | Behaviour‑consequence (response followed by reinforcement or punishment) |
| Key processes | Acquisition, extinction, spontaneous recovery, generalisation, discrimination | Reinforcement (positive/negative), punishment (positive/negative), shaping, extinction |
| Typical example | Pavlov’s dogs: bell (neutral) paired with food (unconditioned stimulus) → salivation to bell alone | Skinner box: rat presses lever → receives food pellet (positive reinforcement) |
| Theoretical focus | How stimuli become associated | How consequences modify the frequency of voluntary behaviour |
Thus, classical conditioning involves involuntary, reflexive responses triggered by paired stimuli, whereas operant conditioning concerns voluntary behaviours that are shaped by their consequences.