Operant and Respondent Conditioning Similarities and Differences

OPERANT AND RESPONDENT CONDITIONING 2 Operant and Respondent Conditioning Similarities and Differences Introduction The environment and physical word is a major contribution to behavior (Cooper et al., 2020). We have developed natural senses that come from natural selection and we also learn through consequences. The behavior development we experience throughout our life has shaped us into who we are today. Nobody has had to teach us to cough in order to get rid of mucus and bacteria. This behavior occurred due to the body's natural reflex (Cooper et al., 2020), the is a respondent behavior. A child sticking his hand on the stove and feeling the pain from the burn is a behavior learned. Due to the painful consequence, he will now not touch the stove when on, this is an operant behavior. In ABA these conditioning methods are used in shaping behavior. Operant conditioning is used more often, but respondent conditioning is also utilized at times as well. Definitions (sources) Operant conditioning is when future behavior is determined by the history of consequences (Cooper et al.,2020). The behavior is shaped through the consequences that follow it. In order for the behavior to change, the consequence must be manipulated. Consequences consist of reinforcement and punishment. If a behavior increases in the future, reinforcement has occurred. Punishment has taken place when the behavior decreases overtime. Respondent conditioning is when a behavior is brought out by the stimuli that precedes it. All organisms enter the world able to respond a certain way to certain OPERANT AND RESPONDENT CONDITIONING 3 stimuli, in ways that no teaching is required (Cooper et al., 2020). These stimulus response relations elicit a reflex. Respondent conditioning involves the manipulation of the antecedent stimuli, in order for a behavior change (Miltenberger, 2014). Similarities Operant and Respondent conditioning are similar in that the have a behavioristic approach, meaning they both focus on observable behavior. They are also similar in that they both have a stimulus-response. Respondent behavior had an antecedent (stimulus) that elicits an response. Operant conditioning has an antecedent that evokes a consequence (response) (Cooper et al., 2020). Differences These two methods have similarities, but they also differ in the way behaviors are conditioned. Respondent conditioning is more of a reflex and has automatic responses, while operant is voluntary (Cooper et al., 2020). Respondent consist of a two-term contingency, meaning there is a stimulus followed by a response. Operant is a three-term contingency, meaning there is an antecedent (before the behavior), Behavior, and consequence (reinforcement or punishment). Examples A=Baby playing with toy B=Big brother takes toy C=Baby hits big brother. A=kid sees cool toy at store B= Kid decides to steal the toy C=Kid get caught by the manager. These are both examples of operant conditioning. These are operant because they are three step contingency. They include an Antecedent (A), behavior (B), and consequence (C). The first example with the brothers is a behavior that is evoked by OPERANT AND RESPONDENT CONDITIONING 4 consequences. The baby was playing with a toy(antecedent) and the big brother took the toy(behavior).Then the baby decided to hit the big brother for taking his toy (Consequence). The hitting behavior from the baby brother, will hope to evoke an decrease in taking away behavior in the big brother. The second example, is a behavior that every kid thinks is a good idea at the time, stealing. The boy eyed a cool toy (antecedent) and decided to steal it (behavior). By getting caught by the manager (consequence), one hopes he learned his lesson and will decrease his stealing behavior(punishment). A- Bell ringing B- waking up A- sun in eyes B-pupil constriction These are both examples of respondent conditioning. The pairing of the alarm sound and getting up, is a learned stimulus response.This shaping of the alarm sound and waking up, became a conditioned response. The sun in the eyes and pupil constriction is a unconditioned stimulus and response. This reflex occurred naturally and did not have to be learned or shaped. Conclusion Respondent conditioning is good for our survival value. From birth majority of humans ore equipped with the same unconditioned reflexes (Miltenburger, 2016). These behavior require no learning. When reflexes are learned the stimuli is conditioned and so is the response. Once learned the behavior typically sticks unless the extinction of the conditioned response is put in place (Miltenburger, 2016). Operant conditioning is the most common used in ABA (Cooper et al., 2020). OPERANT AND RESPONDENT CONDITIONING 5 Utilizing antecedent, behavior, and consequence (ABC) data to determine the cause of a behavior is important in managing a intervention to decrease or increase a certain behaviors. In ABA This technique is the most effective in changing behavior (Cooper at al., 2020).