MRCPsych on the Go: Revision Essentials

1. Why We Learn: Classical and Operant Conditioning Explained

Aalap Asurlekar Season 1 Episode 1

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0:00 | 13:01

A dog salivates at the sound of a bell. A child tidies their room to avoid losing screen time. These are not coincidences. They are the same fundamental principle of learning, playing out in very different ways.

In this episode, we explore the foundations of learning theory, covering classical conditioning and operant conditioning. We trace Pavlov's famous experiments, explain reinforcement, punishment and reinforcement schedules, and show why these principles are central to understanding behavioural therapy and psychological models used in psychiatry.

Ideal for MRCPsych Part A revision, psychology students and anyone curious about why we behave the way we do. Aligned with the Royal College of Psychiatrists MRCPsych Part A syllabus, paragraph 1.1.1.

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