Respondent and Operant Conditioning
Key Takeaways
- Respondent behavior is elicited by antecedent stimuli through unconditioned or conditioned stimulus-response relations.
- Operant behavior is selected by consequences and is analyzed through antecedent-behavior-consequence relations.
- The same observable topography can be part of different processes depending on the controlling relation.
- Exam questions often require identifying whether a stimulus elicits a response or a consequence changes future behavior.
Respondent Relations
Respondent behavior is elicited by antecedent stimuli. Some respondent relations are unconditioned, such as salivation to food or a startle response to a loud sound. Others are conditioned when a neutral stimulus is paired with an unconditioned or already conditioned stimulus until it elicits a response.
In respondent conditioning, the critical relation is stimulus-stimulus pairing. If a clinic room is repeatedly paired with painful dental work and later the room alone elicits crying, the room has become a conditioned stimulus. The crying is not selected by the crying's consequence in that analysis.
Operant Relations
Operant behavior is selected by its consequences. The basic exam unit is the three-term contingency: antecedent, behavior, consequence. An antecedent sets the occasion for behavior because a history of reinforcement or punishment has occurred in its presence.
A response can look emotional and still be analyzed operantly if consequences maintain it. Crying that reliably produces escape from math tasks may be an operant response. Crying elicited by a sudden painful stimulus is better analyzed as respondent. The label depends on the functional relation, not the topography.
Discrimination Guide
| If the stem emphasizes... | Think first about... |
|---|---|
| Pairing two stimuli | Respondent conditioning |
| A stimulus eliciting a reflexive response | Respondent behavior |
| Consequences changing future behavior | Operant conditioning |
| Antecedent, behavior, consequence history | Operant behavior |
Many applied scenarios include both processes. A child may flinch when a dentist's drill sounds and also protest to delay the appointment. Identify the relation the question asks about, then select the principle that fits that relation.
A child hears a blender just before smoothies are made. After several pairings, the blender sound alone produces salivation. Which process is illustrated?
A student asks for a break during writing. When the teacher provides a break, future break requests during writing increase. What is the best analysis?
A practitioner sees crying during task presentation. Which question best distinguishes respondent from operant control?