Respondent Conditioning: Similarities And Differences

Both operant and respondent conditioning are methods both teach concepts, but are significantly different in their deliveries. A website called Tutor2U disclosed some of the differences, such as, respondent conditioning is involuntary and based on reflexes, whereas operant conditioning is voluntarily controlled and is followed by a change in behavior. Additionally, respondent action is usually followed by a stimulus. Likewise, an operant response or action comes before either a punishment or an incentive. Lastly, in respondent conditioning, the stimulus is either pleasant or unfavorable, whereas the operant rewards system leads to a perception of the stimulus as a punishment to be a recurrence or elimination (Similarities and Differences

Between Classical and Operant Conditioning, 2015).

Respondent Conditioning:
A teacher comes into the classroom and sits at her desk. She opens her book and begins to start class. Every day, the teacher starts the class by saying, “let’s review”. The children recognized that every time the teacher opens her book, she will be asking questions about the subject for the day. The sitting at the desk is now the neutral stimulus and the opening of the book is the unconditioned stimulus for the students to prepare themselves to answer questions. Now, the teacher does not have to make the statement “let’s review”, since the children recognized the significance of her sitting at her desk and opening the book.
Operant Conditioning Example,
A child receives a prize in their classroom for every correct answer. The added stimulus is the toy and is an example of a positive reinforcement. However, the student began answering the questions in the same classroom without receiving a toy for every correct answer and is now embarrassed. This serves as an example of a negative reinforcement as the student will no longer raise their hand to answer any questions.
Keeping in mind, depending on the event, will determine whether respondent conditioning or operant conditioning is utilized. Respondent conditioning will only work when it is introduced by a neutral stimulus and is an involuntary reflex. Operant conditioning will only work after the stimulus is presented and the reaction to the event is deemed to the reinforced or extinct.
Similarities and Differences Between Classical and Operant Conditioning. (2015). Retrieved from https://www.tutor2u.net/psychology/reference/similarities-and-differences-between-classical-and-operant-conditioning