So we’ve covered classic conditioning with Pavlov and his mongrels. How does operant conditioning compare?

Are we using any of that when we train dogs? When we train ourselves to avoid or seek a certain stimulus? Is it the gateway to learned helplessness?

When it comes to classic conditioning – we think neutral stimulus linked to a response.

But what happens when we give positive or negative feedback to a behaviour?

I think of this mostly when I ride horseback. Clicker training has become more common in that sphere also. In general there is a move away from providing negative feedback to a behaviour. But positive feedback? whether or not it’s dangling the carrot or provide the reward in the form of a click – this is operant conditioning at its finest.

How does this relate to medical training? or sports?

Effective feedback is immediate. This means if you’re doing a back flip, you want that feedback in that very instant.

They say that you can’t teach a cat not to scratch the couch, because they won’t link it to the behaviour. But what if the feedback is instant? We get pretty close to that with the clicker. It’s much easier to reward a behaviour immediately with the clicker, which is then followed by the treat. The clicker itself is technically classical conditioning. In itself, it’s a neutral stimulus. But it signals that the treat is coming. So as long as you keep those handy, you should be ok.

As for positive reward – it can be the absence of a stimulus too. For example when riding, lessening the pressure on the bit, also called a release, is a form of reward when the horse goes slows the pace when asked.

At the same time that the horse is listening to your directions, you listen to the instructor yourself. Being told when to put your shoulders back, when to release tension, when to sit up straight, those are all tiny little micro data pieces that get incorporated and then allow you to improve the jump the next time around. It’s effective, again, because of its immediacy.

This is perhaps why in medical education (or any kind really), having that feedback available at the time is crucial. Whether it’s simulating a code, or taking up a test right after it’s been taken, these are proven methods to shape behaviour and knowledge.

Happy studying everyone! And more importantly, happy holidays.

MJ