Conditioning vs. Instinct — What's the Difference?

A learning process by which a subject develops a consistent response to a previously unrelated stimulus, either by reward or punishment (as in operant conditioning) or by association of the stimulus with another stimulus that already elicits the response (as in classical conditioning).

Instinct is the inherent inclination of a living organism towards a particular complex behaviour, containing both innate (inborn) and learned elements. The simplest example of an instinctive behavior is a fixed action pattern (FAP), in which a very short to medium length sequence of actions, without variation, are carried out in response to a corresponding clearly defined stimulus.

The process of training that results in physical fitness.

An inborn pattern of behavior that is characteristic of a species and is often a response to specific environmental stimuli

The state of physical fitness that results from such training.

A powerful motivation or impulse.

The process of modifying a person or animal's behaviour.

An innate capability or aptitude

Any preparation or training, especially athletic training of the body.

Deeply filled or imbued

The storage of a material specimen under specified temperature, humidity for a specified time prior to testing.

(Obsolete) Impelled from within.

Present participle of condition

A natural or inherent impulse or behaviour.

A learning process in which an organism's behavior becomes dependent on the occurrence of a stimulus in its environment. See conditioned response.

An intuitive reaction not based on rational conscious thought.

A learning process in which an organism's behavior becomes dependent on the occurrence of a stimulus in its environment

(archaic) Imbued, charged (with something).

Urged or stimulated from within; naturally moved or impelled; imbued; animated; alive; quick; as, birds instinct with life.

Natural inward impulse; unconscious, involuntary, or unreasoning prompting to any mode of action, whether bodily, or mental, without a distinct apprehension of the end or object to be accomplished.

Specif., the natural, unreasoning, impulse by which an animal is guided to the performance of any action, without thought of improvement in the method.

A natural aptitude or knack; a predilection; as, an instinct for order; to be modest by instinct.

To impress, as an animating power, or instinct.

Inborn pattern of behavior often responsive to specific stimuli;

(followed by `with')deeply filled or permeated;