Classical conditioning, as proposed by Ivan Pavlov, involves the pairing of a neutral stimulus with a naturally occurring stimulus to elicit a specific response. The major principles of classical conditioning include the unconditioned stimulus, which naturally elicits a response; the unconditioned response, which is the natural response to the unconditioned stimulus; the conditioned stimulus, which is a neutral stimulus that becomes associated with the unconditioned stimulus; and the conditioned response, which is the learned response to the conditioned stimulus. On the other hand, operant conditioning, introduced by B.F. Skinner, focuses on the consequences of behavior to modify its future occurrence. The major principles of operant conditioning include reinforcement, such as positive reinforcement (rewarding behavior to increase its occurrence) and negative reinforcement (removing a negative stimulus to increase behavior); and punishment, such as positive punishment (adding a negative stimulus to decrease behavior) and negative punishment (removing a positive stimulus to decrease behavior). These principles of classical and operant conditioning have been influential in understanding and shaping human and animal behavior.
