Classical vs. Operant Conditioning Note (FREE)

Key Concepts
Category	Details
Classical Conditioning	Unconditioned Stimulus (UCS): Naturally triggers response. Example: Food causes salivation Unconditioned Response (UCR): Innate response. Example: Salivation to food Conditioned Stimulus (CS): Neutral trigger. Example: Bell with food Conditioned Response (CR): Learned response. Example: Salivation to bell Extinction: CR fades. Example: No salivation if food stops “Learning via association.”
Operant Conditioning	Reinforcement: Increases behavior Positive: Add reward. Example: Candy Negative: Remove discomfort. Example: Stop noise Punishment: Decreases behavior Positive: Add penalty. Example: Time-out Negative: Remove reward. Example: Take toy Shaping: Reinforce steps Example: Reward dog roll Extinction: Behavior fades Example: No candy, no asking “Learning via consequences.”

Proponents
Category	Details
Classical Conditioning	Ivan Pavlov
Operant Conditioning	B.F. Skinner

Applications
Category	Details
Classical Conditioning	Education, Therapy, Advertising
Operant Conditioning	Education, Therapy, Parenting, Workplace

Strengths
Category	Details
Classical Conditioning	Explains reflexes. Example: Fear reduction
Operant Conditioning	Explains actions. Example: Task training

Limitations
Category	Details
Classical Conditioning	Limits to reflexes. Example: No cognition
Operant Conditioning	Over-relies on rewards. Example: Less drive