Types of Learning

David Popkin

There are typically ways for people to learn through classical and operant conditioning. Classical conditioning is all about forming associations with a stimulus and a response. Operant conditioning works through reward, and consequence. The two types of consequences are called positive and negative punishment. Positive punishment means adding a negative consequence while negative punishment means taking away something enjoyed as a consequence. Positive reinforcement means adding a desirable reward while negative consequence is when a negative consequence is taken away. Rewards can also be given at different times. The terms to describe these times are fixed interval, variable interval, fixed ratio, and variable ratio. Fixed interval is when is when after a certain amount of time has passed a reward is given. Variable interval is when the amount of time between rewards are varied. Fixed ratio is when after performing the desired amount of behaviors a reward is given. Variable ratio is when a reward is given after different amount of rewards. Operant and Classical conditioning are both effective ways of learning

My parents were able to use operant conditioning in order to get me to do chores. Every week I would do all the chores my parents told me to do because I knew a reward would come. The reward would come at a fixed interval. Every Sunday I would receive my allowance and then the cycle would restart. This system of behavior followed by reward is a perfect example of operant conditioning. I have also used classical conditioning throughout my life without even realizing it. When my dogs were puppies I was very motivated to train them. I figured out that I had to associate the word sit with a treat. Whenever they sat down after I gave the command the puppies would get a treat. Soon I didn’t have to give them a treat but usually do so the behavior does not go extinct. It took many repetitions to teach them a simple trick but it was effective.

The Office Classical Conditioning Example

Works Cited
Vinney, Cynthia. “What Is Operant Conditioning? Definition and Examples.” ThoughtCo, ThoughtCo, 30 Nov. 2018, www.thoughtco.com/operant-conditioning-definition-examples-4491210.
Shrestha, Praveen. “Operant Conditioning Examples.” Psychestudy, 16 June 2019, www.psychestudy.com/behavioral/learning-memory/operant-conditioning/examples.
“Operant Conditioning.” Operant Conditioning, www.psychologyandsociety.com/operantconditioning.html.