What is the primary difference between classical and operant conditioning?

The primary difference between classical and operant conditioning lies in the way behaviors are learned and reinforced. In classical conditioning, associations are formed between stimuli; this involves learning to associate an involuntary response and a stimulus. A well-known example of this is Pavlov's dogs, where the dogs learned to associate the sound of a bell with being fed, eventually responding to the bell alone with salivation.

In contrast, operant conditioning is focused on the associations between behaviors and their consequences. This means that behaviors are strengthened or weakened based on reinforcement or punishment that follows them. For example, a child may learn to clean their room to receive praise from a parent (positive reinforcement), while they may stop throwing tantrums to avoid being scolded (negative reinforcement).

Understanding this distinction is crucial in the field of behavior analysis, particularly when designing interventions for individuals with autism, as one might choose different strategies depending on the conditional learning principle at work.