Phobias and Addictions Paper‏
As organic beings grow and adapt to our environments we are able to experience and learn many things. As soon as we are born we start to experiment with various mediums for pleasure and for survival. The ways in which we learn have been studied and reviewed many times by many social researchers. The two most prominent forms of learning styles are labeled as Classical and Operant Conditioning. Both Styles allow individuals to perform experiments in which we find out what works, why it works, and the possible changes and outcomes that may be applied as a result. In classical conditioning, a stimulus that already leads to a response is replaced by a different stimulus. In operant conditioning a behavior is picked out and either reinforced or punished to make it more or less common. In laymen’s terms it acts to modify or replace the stimulus that leads to a given response, and the other to modify or refine a response (Psychology 5e, 2010).
Classical Conditioning is a technique used in the change and adaption of a specific behavior. It is the naturally occurring stimulus that is paired with a defined response. A neutral stimulus is then paired with the naturally occurring stimulus. The goal is to have the neutral stimulus evoke the response without the need of the naturally occurring stimulus. The two functions become the conditioned stimulus and the conditioned response. The classical conditioning model of behaviorism is based upon the psychological mechanism of association. Classical conditioning functions through conditioning trials. This is where an unconditioned stimulus is repeatedly paired with a neutral stimulus to achieve the desired effect. Operant Conditioning is a different technique involved in behavior modification. This technique is used to change the probability of behavior reoccurring. The process of operant conditioning