Kondicionálást

Kondicionálást, known more formally as conditioning, is a fundamental concept in psychology that refers to a learning process where a new response is associated with a stimulus. This process is central to understanding how behaviors are acquired and modified. There are two primary types of conditioning: classical conditioning and operant conditioning.

Classical conditioning, famously demonstrated by Ivan Pavlov's experiments with dogs, involves learning through association. In this type of conditioning, a neutral stimulus, which initially elicits no response, is repeatedly paired with an unconditioned stimulus that naturally triggers a specific response. Over time, the neutral stimulus becomes a conditioned stimulus, capable of eliciting the same response, now called a conditioned response, even in the absence of the unconditioned stimulus.

Operant conditioning, developed by B.F. Skinner, focuses on learning through consequences. In operant conditioning, behaviors are strengthened or weakened based on the reinforcement or punishment that follows them. Positive reinforcement involves adding a desirable stimulus to increase the likelihood of a behavior, while negative reinforcement involves removing an undesirable stimulus. Punishment, conversely, aims to decrease the frequency of a behavior by either adding an aversive stimulus or removing a desirable one. Both forms of conditioning play a crucial role in shaping animal and human behavior in various settings, from everyday interactions to therapeutic interventions.