Which of the following best distinguishes operant conditioning from classical conditioning?
A) Operant conditioning focuses mainly on internal mental processes; classical conditioning focuses mainly on behavior.
B) In operant conditioning, a behavior elicits a stimulus; in classical conditioning, a stimulus elicits a behavior.
C) Operant conditioning involves involuntary responses; classical conditioning involves voluntary behavior.
D) In operant conditioning, responses depend on the autonomic nervous system; in classical conditioning, responses depend on the skeletal muscles.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The key difference between operant and classical conditioning is the direction of the relationship between behavior and stimulus. In operant conditioning, a behavior (response) is followed by a consequence (stimulus) that either reinforces or punishes the behavior, influencing the likelihood of the behavior occurring again in the future. In classical conditioning, a stimulus (such as a bell or a light) is consistently paired with another stimulus (such as food or a shock), leading to a learned association between the two stimuli where the initial stimulus comes to elicit the behavior that was previously elicited by the second stimulus. Thus, in operant conditioning, the behavior elicits the consequence; in classical conditioning, the consequence elicits the behavior.

Which of the Following Best Distinguishes Operant Conditioning from Classical