Module 2: Classical Conditioning

In classical conditioning, there is the a neutral stimulus that is presented before an unconditioned stimulus, which creates an association between the two ("Module 6.2: Classical Conditioning"., n.d.). The example of Antonio's fear and dread of hospitals is a good example of classical conditioning based on that alone. In Antonio's case, the unconditioned stimulus would be the hospital, as this type of stimulus is what elicits a reflexive response ("Module 6.2: Classical Conditioning"., n.d.). Having the experience of being ill and in the hospital has given the hospital a negative associating in his mind, which is why when he goes by he has the conditioned response of feeling ill, which is the behavior that has been conditioned ("Module 6.2:
Classical Conditioning"., n.d.).

Behaviors having consequences is a lesson many begin to learn during childhood.
Don't touch hot things, buckling up in a car, listening to authority figures and so on become entrenched in people's lives. This is called operant conditioning is when organisms learn to associate a particular behavior with its consequence ("Module 6.3: Operant Conditioning"., n.d.). An example of positive reinforce would be like when I was a child in school and we had colored cards to indicate our behaviors. If we remained on green we would get a treat at the end of the week, but if we were in red than we did not. This is a shaping approach as it helps to reinforce specific positive behaviors that were desirable by the teacher ("Module 6.3: Operant Conditioning"., n.d.). As for a negative punishment, however, is when you want to decrease the behavior, such as when as a little kid my parents would reduce my computer time if I didn't eat all my vegetables at dinner, or if I had talked back to them ("Module 6.3: Operant Conditioning"., n.d.). The other operant conditioning reinforcements are positive punishments such a getting a speeding ticket as it's meant to decrease the behavior and the other is negative reinforcement, which trying to remove undesirable stimuli to increase a behavior ("Module 6.3: Operant Conditioning"., n.d.). These are examples of operant conditioning because of the focus on affecting behaviors as it is the process of associating one's behavior to either positive or negative
consequences ("Module 6.3: Operant Conditioning"., n.d).

Classical and operant conditioning have their similarities and differences as illustrated by these examples.
Whereas with classic conditioning, like in Antonio's case, he associated being ill with the hospital and felt sick when going near one it had nothing to do with his behavior as is the case with operant conditioning. Antonio's case is classic conditioning has a clear progression of unconditioned stimulus, to unconditioned response, through conditioned stimulus and finally, to conditioned response when he gets sick upon being near a hospital ("Module 6.2: Classic Conditioning"., n.d.). In contrast with that is operant conditioning as it is specific about associating behaviors with consequences and outcomes as with my example of the behavior cards as a child in school. We were encouraged to behave to get a treat at the end of the week whether it be candy or extra time at recess ("Module 6.3: Operant Conditioning".,
n.d.).