Final answer:
Instrumental conditioning, or operant conditioning, involves learning through reinforcement or punishment, differing from classical conditioning, which pairs stimuli to condition a reflexive response. Operant conditioning is involved in voluntary behaviors, whereas classical conditioning associates involuntary responses.
Step-by-step explanation:
Instrumental conditioning, also known as operant conditioning, is a method of learning in which a new behavior is learned or modified through reinforcement or punishment. In contrast to classical conditioning, which deals with involuntary responses, operant conditioning involves voluntary behaviors and focuses on the association between a behavior and its consequence.
Types of Instrumental Conditioning
There are two main types of instrumental conditioning: positive reinforcement, where a behavior is strengthened by providing a reward; and negative reinforcement, which strengthens behavior by removing an aversive stimulus. Additionally, there are punishments, which aim to decrease the likelihood of a behavior repeating by introducing an unpleasant consequence or removing a pleasant one.
Classical Conditioning vs. Operant Conditioning
Classical conditioning, pioneered by Ivan Pavlov through experiments with dogs, primarily involves the formation of associations between two stimuli leading to a reflexive response. Pavlov demonstrated how a neutral stimulus (like a bell) could eventually evoke a conditioned response (such as salivation in dogs) when paired with an unconditioned stimulus (like food).
On the other hand, operant conditioning, which was developed further by B.F. Skinner, centers on the association between a voluntary behavior and a subsequent consequence. A common example of operant conditioning is training a pet to perform a trick by rewarding it with a treat (positive reinforcement), thereby increasing the likelihood of the behavior being repeated.
In real-life applications, operant conditioning is how you learn that studying could positively impact your grades, such as on an AP® test, as the effort (studying) is followed by a reward (good grades).