Tenets

Classical Conditioning

Operant Conditioning

Definition

Learning through associations between stimuli.

Learning through rewards and punishments for behaviors.

Looking the blood

Exercise makes one healthier

Focus

Involuntary, reflexive responses.

Voluntary, goal-directed behaviors.

Fear of injury or pain

Going to exercise daily

Main Figure

Ivan Pavlov.

B.F. Skinner.

Example

Feeling anxious in situations whenever see the blood of anyone

Feeling motivated to study because of the positive reinforcement of good grades.

Response

Automatic, instinctual responses.

Purposeful, conscious actions.

Fear

Health, spare time to do it

Learning Mechanism

Association between stimuli.

Association between behavior and consequences.

Associate fear with blood

Exercise-good health, Laziness-poor health

Extinction

Diminishing of a conditioned response when the conditioned stimulus no longer predicts the unconditioned stimulus.

Decrease in behavior when it is no longer reinforced.

It has been a long time since a person learned to avoid a particular situation

If constant effort brings forth no health benefits due to any reason

Spontaneous Recovery

The reappearance of a previously extinguished response after a delay.

Reappearance of a behavior after it has been extinguished.

Suddenly, a person sees someone on the road accident with running blood

Understanding what is needed along with exercise for good health

Generalization

Responding to stimuli similar to the conditioned stimulus.

Responding to similar stimuli or situations in the same way as the reinforced behavior.

Red color, the blood of an animal, blood like liquids

Sports, physical activities

Discrimination

Differentiating between similar stimuli.

Differentiating between situations where a behavior will be reinforced and where it will not.

Red color, the blood of an animal is not human’s.

Every movement is not exercise

Application to Mental Health

Classical conditioning can contribute to the development of phobias and anxiety disorders.

Operant conditioning principles are used in behavior modification therapy for various mental health issues, such as addiction and ADHD.