What is the difference between classical and operant conditioning?

Classical conditioning is learning due to associations formed between a stimulus and a response given. This can be shown by Pavlov’s famous study into a dog learning to salivate when hearing the sound of a bell. This occurred through the dog associating the bell noise with when food was given to him and over time no longer needed the food to be present for salivation to occur.

Operant conditioning is learning due to the consequences of our actions. This can cause a behaviour to be strengthened (through positive and negative reinforcement), or weakened (through punishment) which causes new behaviours to be formed or prevented. This is shown in an experiment by Skinner involving rats in a Skinner box, the rats learnt to push the lever to receive food (positive reinforcement) or to push the lever to stop an electric shock (negative reinforcement).

JC
Answered by Jess C. Psychology tutor

2276 Views

See similar Psychology A Level tutors

Related Psychology A Level answers

All answers ▸

How do I write critically in an essay?


How does behavioural psychology use classical conditioning to attempt to explain the development of phobias?


Identify two descriptive statistics and explain how the descriptive statistics you have identified could be calculated (4 marks)


Describe the Working memory Model.


We're here to help

contact us iconContact ustelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

MyTutor is part of the IXL family of brands:

© 2025 by IXL Learning