Explain the concept 'Conditioning' and explain the two types of conditioning in relation to our understanding of human behaviour. Note; Explain with relevant examples

Conditioning is a concept whereby a person's or animal's reaction to a stimulus can be modified through learning. In short, the reaction can become more frequent to the given stimulus as a result of reinforcement

Step-by-step explanation

Conditioning is a concept whereby a person's or animal's reaction to a stimulus can be modified through learning. In short, the reaction can become more frequent to the given stimulus as a result of reinforcement. A person's or animal's reaction to a stimulus can easily be conditioned. For example, when feeding your dogs each day before feeding your dogs start by clapping your hands, on the first day the dogs will not understand it but over time, and with the frequency of the habit, the dogs will associate clapping of hands with food. In conditioning, the reaction to a stimulus will not be learnt in a single day but over time. Repetition of action overtime will develop a conditioning aspect. The recipient of the action in our example the dogs will learn to associate clapping with food.

There are two types of conditioning in relation n to human behavior

Classical conditioning and operant conditioning.

Classical conditioning

This type of conditioning is defined as a type of conditioning whereby two stimuli potent stimulus and a previous stimulus are combined together to produce a new response. Classical conditioning entails three steps

Step 1

Here the unconditioned stimuli will produce an unconditioned response in a person. The stimulus will produce a behavior or response which is unlearned. An example is perfume which is an unlearned stimulus that will produce happiness unlearned response. In this stage, there is also another stimulus which is the neutral stimulus it does not affect till it is matched with an unconditioned stimulus.

Step 2 during conditioning

The neutral stimulus will then be associated with an unconditioned stimulus which now becomes the conditioned stimuli. A neutral stimuli example person when linked with unconditioned stimulus perfumes it will lead to the perfume being linked with a specific individual (conditioned stimulus)

For classical conditioning to become operative the conditioned stimulus must occur prior to the unconditioned stimulus occurs. The conditioned stimulus will act as a form of indicator for the unconditioned stimulus.

Step 3 After conditioning

In this stage, the conditioned stimulus has already been linked with the unconditioned stimulus and will then lead to a new conditioned response.

For example, the person i.e. who is the conditioned response who now has been commonly associated with the nice perfume (unconditioned response) will now be found to be appealing or attractive. Attractiveness is the conditioned response.

inner distinguished between two different types of behaviors.

Operant conditioning

This is a type of conditioning that normally applies punishment or rewards for behavior. When a child fails in school the parent will ground the child. No television no going out only books. The child will then associate failing with punishment in our case failing. This will drive the child to avoid failing to escape punishment. The other way around when a child excels in school the parent will reward the child maybe by taking the child to Disney land. The child will then associate a good grade with rewards. Operant conditioning is a key learning tool. Through punishment and rewards, people will learn how to react to different occasions. In operant conditioning there can be both positive and negative reinforcers; positive reinforces are the good outcomes or events that follow after the behavior example is being rewarded for your good job by your boss. The reward may be a bonus, that bonus is considered a positive reinforcer. In negative reinforcers, the unfavorable outcome is removed after a behavior is displayed. For example, a child starts crying in a restaurant the mother not wanting to be the center of attention hands the kid a bar of chocolate to stop crying. The mother's action has lead to stopping unpleasant behavior. This is negatively reinforcing the mother's behavior.

There are also positive and negative punishments.

Positive punishments or punishment by application is when an unfavorable outcome occurs and the punishment is applied to weaken it, an example is spanking your child for calling others names.

Negative or punishment by removal is when a favorable or good event occurs and is then removed when a behaviors show up. An example is confiscating your child's laptop following an incident of misbehavior