Which psychological concept involves learning from the consequences of actions?

Operant conditioning is the psychological concept that focuses on learning through the consequences of actions. This approach, developed by B.F. Skinner, emphasizes how behavior is influenced by rewards and punishments. When a behavior is followed by a satisfying consequence, it is more likely to be repeated in the future, while behaviors followed by negative consequences are less likely to be repeated. This framework helps explain how individuals can modify their actions based on the outcomes they experience, which is essential in both animal training and human behavior management.

In contrast, classical conditioning, which involves associating a neutral stimulus with an unconditioned stimulus to elicit a conditioned response, does not directly involve learning from consequences. Observational learning focuses on acquiring behaviors by watching others rather than experiencing the consequences oneself. Social learning theory incorporates both observational learning and operant conditioning but doesn't focus solely on the consequences of actions. Therefore, operant conditioning is specifically distinguished by its direct emphasis on how consequences shape behavior.