PSYC 6717 Respondent and Operant Conditioning
Discussion: Respondent and Operant Conditioning
Operant and respondent (classical) conditioning are both used to establish and modify behaviors. These concepts originated in the field of behavioral psychology and share similarities and differences. Perhaps the clearest example of the difference between the two concepts is whether the behavior to be modified is automatic (i.e., involuntary) or under the subject’s conscious control (i.e., voluntary).
A thorough understanding of the similarities and differences between respondent (classical) conditioning and operant conditioning can provide you clarity about which would be most appropriate to apply in a given learning situation.
For this Discussion, you will contrast operant conditioning and respondent (classical) conditioning in the acquisition of a behavior and a rationale for the use of each. You will also identify behaviors that could be established using each technique.
To Prepare
- Review the Learning Resources for this week.
- Contrast operant conditioning and respondent conditioning in the acquisition of a behavior and consider why each works with some behaviors and not with others.
- Select two behaviors, one that could be established through operant conditioning and one that could be established through respondent conditioning.
- Review the interactive media in the Learning Resources, “Respondent or Operant Conditioning?”
By Day 4 of Week 8
Post an explanation contrasting operant conditioning and respondent conditioning in the acquisition of a behavior. Be sure to identify why each works with some behaviors and not with others. Then, explain why each of the two behaviors you chose is more appropriate for respondent or operant conditioning.
Read your colleagues’ postings.
Note: For this discussion, you are required to complete your initial post before you will be able to view and respond to your colleagues’ postings. Begin by clicking on the To Participate in this Discussion link, then select Create Thread to complete your initial post. Remember, once you click on Submit, you cannot delete or edit your own posts, and cannot post anonymously. Please check your post carefully before clicking on Submit!
By Day 6 of Week 8
Respond to at least two colleagues’ posts by expanding on each of their explanations of how their chosen behaviors are more appropriate for respondent or operant conditioning.
Be sure to support your posts and responses with specific references to behavior-analytic theory and research. In addition to the Learning Resources, search the Walden Library and/or the internet for peer-reviewed articles to support your posts and responses. Use proper APA format and citations, including those in the Learning Resources.
Return to this Discussion in a few days to read the responses to your initial posting. Note what you have learned and/or any insights that you have gained because of your colleagues’ comments.
Operant and respondent conditioning are both used to modify behaviors. The simplest difference between the two concepts is whether the behavior being modified is involuntary or voluntary. Respondent behavior is classified as when organisms respond in predictable ways to certain stimuli with no learning required. These “reflexive” behaviors protect against harmful stimuli, help regulate the internal balance and economy of the organism, and promote reproduction. Respondent conditioning is creating a scenario that induces these typically reflexive behaviors using conditioned stimuli. Operant behavior is any behavior caused by its history of consequences. Unlike respondent behavior, which is caused by predecessor events, operant behavior is selected, shaped, and maintained by the consequences that have occurred in the past (Cooper, J. O., Heron, T. E., & Heward, W. L. 2020). The form and function of respondent behaviors is constant, while operant behavior can have a wide range of outcomes with the same movement, depending on different operants under different conditions. “Operant conditioning refers to the process and selective effects of consequences on behavior” (Cooper J. O., et.al., 2020). According to Skinner, “In operant conditioning we strengthen an operant in the sense of making a response more probable or, in actual fact, more frequent”, (Cooper J. O., et.al., 2020).
Operant conditioning only works with behaviors that have occurred in the past and uses consequences, such as positive or negative reinforcement or punishment, that will only affect future behavior. The behaviors targeted in operant conditioning are not reflexive or immediate and behavior change will be observed in future events. An example of a behavior that could be changed with operant conditioning is rewarding a child with allowance for doing their chores. The positive reinforcement of the allowance will increase the doing of chores in the future.
Respondent conditioning targets immediate behaviors that are a involuntary reflex to a conditioned stimulus. Respondent conditioning will only effect involuntary reactions to stimuli presented in the moment and does not affect future voluntary behavior. An example of a behavior that could be changed with respondent conditioning could be craving sugar. The more sugar your body is exposed to the more often you will crave it. So, if you eat a sugary treat every night after dinner for a week, the more likely your body will be conditioned to crave something sugary in the evening.
Cooper, J. O., Heron, T. E., & Heward, W. L. (2020). Applied behavior analysis (3rd ed.). Pearson.
