Question

Is this an example of classical or operant conditioning?

Answer 1

Maybe I let people have their way too often. It’s just that when I put my foot down they get mad and I don’t like that. They just seem a lot nicer to me when I give in. They seem to like me more.

Answer 2

Let me explain Classical and Operant Conditioning for you.

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Classical Conditioning is all about ASSOCIATION.
It's about CONNECTING one thing to another thing.

I'll give an example for you:

Every time my phone rings, I know it's my friend calling me.
And I'm always happy and excited to hear from my friend.

So it's like this:
Phone rings >> It's my friend calling >> I feel happy!!

Now, every time my phone rings, I feel happy and excited.

Like this:
Phone rings >> I feel happy!!

My mind has made a mental CONNECTION between the phone ringing, and being excited.

Again, CLASSICAL conditioning is all about these connections.

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OPERANT Conditioning is all about rewards and punishments.

Example:

Every time I raise my hand in class, the teacher gives me a lollipop.
So now, I raise my hand in class all the time.
Because I get a reward for doing that!

Another example:

Every time I chew with my mouth open,
my dad beats the living s/hit out of me.
So now, I never chew with my mouth open.
Or else I'll get punished.

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So look at your homework example again.

"It’s just that when I put my foot down they get mad and I don’t like that.
They just seem a lot nicer to me when I give in. They seem to like me more."

What does that look like to you?

Connections (classical conditioning) or Reward and Punishment (operant conditioning) ?

Answer 3

I believe it's classical because when they give in people are nicer to them. Honestly, I had no idea what they even were until you explained them because my teacher isn't that great. Thanks.

Answer 4

Oh boy. I'm sorry, but I was actually going for Operant Conditioning.

"When I put my foot down, they get mad. I don't like that."

See, that's punishment.

"They just seem a lot nicer to me when I give in."

That's reward.

Reward and Punishment are both a part of Operant Conditioning.

Answer 5

Let me try to explain Classical Conditioning in a different way. I admit, it's tricky.

Imagine this:

I'm holding a needle up to a balloon.

So what? No big deal, right?

But then...I pop the balloon. POP!

The loud POP sound makes you flinch.
You flinch, because that is your natural reaction to the popping noise. Get it?

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Now....the next time I hold up a needle to a balloon, you flinch. Even before I pop the balloon.

Why are you flinching?? I haven't even popped the balloon yet!

The answer is simple.
You flinch because your mind has made a mental CONNECTION between the needle, and the sound of the balloon popping.

You ANTICIPATE the balloon popping, even though I haven't popped it yet.
Because you see me holding the needle up to the balloon.

Does that make sense?

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Classical Conditioning is all about connections.

It's about making connections between two different things that were not always connected, before.