Which of the following best describes the major difference between classical and operant conditioning compared to nonassociative learning?

• A. Nonassociative learning involves learning associations between two stimuli, while classical and operant conditioning involve changes in response strength to a single stimulus.
• B. Nonassociative learning requires reinforcement, whereas classical and operant conditioning do not involve reinforcement.
• C. Classical and operant conditioning only occur in humans, while nonassociative learning occurs in all animals.
• D. Classical and operant conditioning involve learning associations between stimuli or behaviors and outcomes, while nonassociative learning involves changes in response strength to a single stimulus without forming associations.

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the key concepts involved: classical conditioning, operant conditioning, and nonassociative learning. Classical conditioning involves learning associations between two stimuli, while operant conditioning involves learning associations between behaviors and their consequences.
2. Step 2: Define nonassociative learning as a type of learning where an organism's response to a single stimulus changes over time, without forming associations between different stimuli or behaviors and outcomes. Examples include habituation and sensitization.
3. Step 3: Compare the nature of learning in classical and operant conditioning versus nonassociative learning. Classical and operant conditioning require forming associations (either between stimuli or between behavior and consequence), whereas nonassociative learning does not involve such associations.
4. Step 4: Analyze the answer choices by checking which one correctly captures this distinction: that classical and operant conditioning involve associative learning, while nonassociative learning involves changes in response strength to a single stimulus without associations.
5. Step 5: Conclude that the best description is the one stating that classical and operant conditioning involve learning associations between stimuli or behaviors and outcomes, while nonassociative learning involves changes in response strength to a single stimulus without forming associations.