What is the difference between Operant Conditioning and Classical Conditioning?

Question

anonymous · Answer

Operant condition is behavioral conditioning. The subject does something that results in some sort of consequence leading them to repeat or cease the behavior. Think Skinner boxes here, the animal presses a lever and is rewarded with food. Eventually they will learn that pressing the lever will given them food.

Classical conditioning pairs stimuli together to create a response. An unconditioned stimuli is paired with a neutral stimuli to produce an unconditioned response. Eventually the neutral stimuli is removed and the unconditioned response becomes a conditioned response.