If I were asked to define conditioning, I would say that it is the act of using repeated effort to shape something into what is desired. In the context of psychology, conditioning is described as a way of learning. Psychologists classify conditioning learning into two branches, classical and operant. For either type of conditioning to take place, certain stimuli must be present. Additionally, there are cases where both classical conditioning and operant conditioning are applied. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essay For classical conditioning to take place, two stimuli must be present. These stimuli are external sources that trigger internal responses. The two elements required for classical conditioning are the conditioned stimulus and the unconditioned stimulus. How unconditioned stimulus and conditioned stimulus work can be more easily understood through Pavlov's infamous example. In Ivan Pavlov's experiment, he conditioned dogs to produce saliva every time a bell rang. The bell acted as an unconditioned stimulus and rang every time food was brought to the dogs. This bell was associated with the conditioned stimulus, namely the food given to the dogs. Eventually, hearing the bell alone could make dogs salivate. When the unconditioned stimulus can elicit a response without the conditioned stimulus, it is called classical conditioning. A case of classical conditioning in my own life was also caused by food, except it didn't make me salivate. My dad took my siblings and I to eat at Buffalo Wild Wings. I ordered eight boneless garlic parmesan chicken wings and ate every single one. Everything was fine until midday that evening when I started having stomach cramps. I rushed to the bathroom, but unfortunately I didn't reach the toilet in time. I then splashed vomit all over the toilet, sink, walls and floor. Based on the pain in my abdomen and the amount of vomiting, I think it was food poisoning. I think my father, who had to clean up after me, would agree. After that, I was unable to eat wild buffalo wings for years and the thought still makes me sick to my stomach. In my case, the conditioned stimulus was the abominable vomit I produced, while the unconditioned stimulus was my contempt for Buffalo Wild Wings. Operant conditioning also involves a stimulus, but it is more based on reward and punishment. Operant conditioning is based on the theory of BF Skinner. Skinners' belief is that learning occurs when an individual's response to a stimulus is rewarded. The reward is what encourages repetition of the response. Likewise, if the response to a stimulus is punished, it will not be repeated. Skinner refers to rewards and punishments in operant conditioning as reinforcers. Instances of positive reinforcers win, receive recognition, or earn a prize, while instances of negative reinforcers are reprimanded, lose, or get a poor grade. The most striking example of operant conditioning I experienced occurred when I was in fifth grade. I had been playing softball since I was four years old and loved it. Up until my last year of playing, I had mostly gained positive reinforcement through sports. I knew if I crossed home plate, I'd catch..