Differentiate between classical and operant conditioning.

Classical conditioning and operant conditioning are two distinct forms of learning that involve the association of stimuli and responses, but they differ in their mechanisms and outcomes.

Classical Conditioning:

• Associative Learning: In classical conditioning, learning occurs through the association of two stimuli.
• Involuntary Responses: It involves involuntary, reflexive responses that are triggered by a previously neutral stimulus paired with an unconditioned stimulus.
• Pavlov's Experiment: Ivan Pavlov's famous experiment with dogs, where he associated the ringing of a bell (neutral stimulus) with the presentation of food (unconditioned stimulus), leading to the dogs salivating (conditioned response) at the sound of the bell alone.

Operant Conditioning:

• Associative Learning: Operant conditioning involves learning through the association of behaviors with consequences.
• Voluntary Responses: It deals with voluntary, goal-directed behaviors that are strengthened or weakened by reinforcement or punishment.
• Skinner's Experiment: B.F. Skinner's Skinner Box experiments, where animals learned to perform specific behaviors to receive rewards (positive reinforcement) or avoid punishments (negative reinforcement), demonstrating the principles of operant conditioning.

In summary, classical conditioning focuses on the association between stimuli and automatic responses, while operant conditioning involves the association between behaviors and their consequences, influencing the likelihood of those behaviors occurring in the future.