Respondent/Classical
Conditioning
See: Watson Movie Clip

Biography and additional information on Watson
 

I. Pavlov noticed that certain stimuli seemed to be associated with certain responses.

 A. Unconditioned Stimulus (US): Stimuli that automatically triggers a particular response.

 B. Unconditioned Response (UR): The automatic reaction caused by the unconditioned stimulus.

 C. Conditioned Stimulus (CS): A formerly neutral, arbitrary, stimulus that has been paired with an unconditioned stimulus causes the "automatic" reaction.

 D. Conditioned Response (CR): The response that follows the conditioned stimulus without the unconditioned stimulus needing to be present.

II. Labeled Respondent Conditioning because the response to the conditioned stimulus has no effect on the environment.

Operant Conditioning
See: Skinner Movie Clip
Biography and additional information on Skinner

Underlying Assumptions

1. All behavior is lawful.

 2. All behavior can be objectively studied.

 3. All behavior (eventually, when we know enough about it) can be accurately
predicted and controlled.

Basic Principles

1. Much of our behavior (including such diverse behaviors as attitudes, values, interests, skills, and basic personality patterns) has been developed as aresult of the learning process (changes in behavior as a result of rewards and punishment).

2. Behavior that has been reinforced increases in frequency.

3. Two types of reinforcement: positive and negative.
    Positive: When the recipient gets or receives something highly desirable after doing the behavior, the behavior increases in frequency.
    Negative: The behavior results in getting rid of something aversive (negative), which increases the frequency of the behavior.

 4. Behavior that is not reinforced is extinguished.

 5. Behavior that is punished decreases in frequency. Punishment can occur either with the application of a noxious stimulus or the removal of a pleasurable one.

 6. The persistence of behavior is a function of the type of, amount of, and consistency of rewards.

 7. Behavior can be changed through proper planning and control of rewards.

 8. Behavior that is punished is hard to predict but generally tends not to be repeated.

Application

1. Pinpoint the behavior you want to alter. Pick a single target, whether it's a habit you want to strengthen, such as neatness, or one you want to disappear,such as thumb-sucking.

2. Record how frequently the behavior occurs.

3. Pick a consequence for the behavior and enforce it, continuing to record frequency of occurrence.

 4. Try, try again. This step is necessary only if the first consequence fails to alter the behavior.

Critics of Operant Conditioning make these points:

 1. The technique is superficial, altering behavior without touching its source.

 2. Operant Conditioning fails when problems are complex -deep-seated depressions, generalized anxiety, character disorders.

 3. There is something distasteful about the emphasis on material rewards for children and other patients; it smacks of bribery.