Operant and respondent conditioning are two fields that explain behavioural adaptations. Both share much in common as they are types of learning that capture reaction and stimuli. The difference between the two is exhibited in the behaviours that can acquire modification owing to the specific theory in play such as heart rate for the latter and escape from rodents for the second.
Respondent/ classical conditioning involves involuntary responses that transcend from experiences that occur before a specific reaction (Stach, 2017). It is a learning process invoked by two different stimuli where the first is unconditioned, i.e. it produces an unconditioned response and the second is neutral stimulus as it draws influence from the mentioned aspect. Heart rate can be triggered by kissing where a kiss results in an elevated heartbeat which captures the unconditioned stimuli — playing a song while in the act can accustom the system to the probability of kissing when the song plays which makes the heart rate increase in what exhibits neutral stimulus. The increased heart rate is an unconditioned response which when the song factor is factored in it becomes a conditioned response hence can be used to modify a lover to setting a romantic mood. For operant conditioning, it involves voluntary behaviours whose response is accompanied by either punishment or reinforcement (Panda, 2018). The former negates a specific practice while the latter causes increased frequency. Children are usually accustomed to fear rodents such as rats and would learn of their presence such as tumbling of objects through classical conditioning. In a case the rat presents itself, a child’s reaction would be modified to flee as he/she would react with fear and subsequently escape which reflects aversive stimulus that reflects operant conditioning in what is negative reinforcement.
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Operant and respondent conditioning are utilized in behaviour modification as explained above. The two actions selected reflect a difference as one involves spontaneous reaction for operant whereas the other involuntary (for respondent) making alternative intervention inappropriate. The two are similar in every aspect except the one mentioned above.
References
Panda, M. (2018). The science of persuasion: A brief study of its theoretical framework. IUP Journal of Soft Skills , 12(2), 33-41.
Stach, J. (2017). How memorable experiences influence brand preference. Qualitative Market Research , 20(4), 394-415.
