Conditioning is a learning process where an individual forms associations between stimuli or behaviors and their outcomes. It can be divided into two main types:
Classical Conditioning: Involves pairing a neutral stimulus with a meaningful one to elicit a similar response (e.g., Pavlov’s dogs salivating at the sound of a bell).
Operant Conditioning: Involves learning through rewards or punishments, where behaviors are strengthened or weakened based on their consequences (e.g., Thorndike’s Law of Effect).