AP Psychology / Development and Learning
Lesson
Learning from consequences and from people
Conditioning and observation both change what we do next.
Learning goals
- Contrast classical and operant conditioning.
- Explain observational learning with a model, not only with a reward.
Explanation
Classical conditioning pairs a neutral cue with something that already triggers a response, so the cue later brings the response on its own. Operant conditioning changes behavior through consequences: reinforcement makes a behavior more likely, punishment makes it less likely. The two are easy to mix up if you only memorize definitions.
People also learn by watching. A model who is rewarded, punished, or simply copied can change a viewer's later choices. That is why a sibling, coach, or video can shape behavior even when nobody reinforced the viewer directly. Ask what was paired, what was consequated, and who was watched.
Key terms
- classical conditioning. Learning by associating a previously neutral stimulus with one that already produces a response.
- operant conditioning. Learning in which consequences make a behavior more or less likely to happen again.
Common mistakes
- Calling every learned behavior 'classical conditioning.'
- Forgetting that observation can teach a behavior that was never directly reinforced in the learner.
Practice
Original Marlow Works items. Check the answer explanation after you try.
Researchers find that students who sleep more tend to perform better on memory tests. Why can't they conclude from this correlation that more sleep causes better memory?
Original Marlow Works item — not a College Board question.
Take your time—this is practice, not a test.
Answer explanation
A coach praises a player each time the player uses a safe tackling form, and the form becomes more common. Which learning process is that?
Answer. Operant conditioning: a consequence (praise) increased the behavior.
Nothing was paired as a reflex cue; the behavior changed because of what followed it.
Related resources
External links with reuse status. Marlow Works is independent and does not copy restricted exam or textbook material.
Official / link only
AP Psychology course page
Official five-unit framework and science practices.
College Board · All rights reserved · accessed 2026-10-01
Open sourceReference only — do not copy
OpenStax Psychology 2e
Useful psychology background, but current publisher terms restrict commercial reuse and AI ingestion.
OpenStax · CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 with additional restrictions · accessed 2026-10-01
Link only. Do not republish or ingest this book.
Open source