Download Name: For each of the examples below decide identify the

Name:
For each of the examples below decide identify the unconditioned stimulus (US),
unconditioned response (UR), conditioned stimulus (CS), and conditioned response (CR).
Classical Conditioning Examples:
1. Every time someone flushes a toilet in the apartment building, the shower becomes very hot and causes the
person to jump back. Over time, the person begins to jump back automatically after hearing the flush, before
the water temperature changes.
US
UR
CS
CR
2. You eat a new food and then get sick because of the flu. However, you develop a dislike for the food and feel
nauseated whenever you smell it.
US
UR
CS
CR
3. An individual receives frequent injections of drugs, which are administered in a small examination room at a
clinic. The drug itself causes increased heart rate but after several trips to the clinic, simply being in a small room
causes an increased heart rate.
US
UR
CS
CR
4. John Watson conducted an experiment with a boy named Albert in which he paired a white rat with a loud,
startling noise. Albert now becomes startled at the sight of the white rat.
US
UR
CS
CR
Classical vs. Operant Conditioning
What procedure (choose either classical or operant conditioning) is being described or has probably resulted in the following
behavior patterns? Be able to explain why you chose the model you did.
1.
In order to be able to punish my cat even when I'm not near enough to reach him, I have paired the sound of a clicker with
getting squirted with water. Now the sound of the clicker causes him to startle.
a. Is this classical or operant conditioning? Explain.
b.
2.
When Mr. Schaefer first starts teaching about a concept, he praises any answer that is close to the right answer.
a. Is this classical or operant conditioning? Explain.
b.
3.
6.
Identify the US, CS, UR and CR.
In a weight management class, participants earn points for every healthy meal they eat and every period of exercise they
complete. Later these points result in refunds of their class fees.
a. What behaviors are being conditioned?
b.
5.
What method/technique is Mr. Sobotta using?
The smell of fresh bread baking makes my mouth water.
a. Is this classical or operant condition? Explain.
b.
4.
Identify the US, CS, UR and CR.
Is this positive or negative reinforcement or positive or negative punishment?
After the bad car accident she had last year, Brittney cringes and break into a sweat at the sound of squealing brakes.
a. Is this classical or operant conditioning? Explain.
b.
Identify the US, CS, UR and CR.
c.
How could this behavior be made extinct?
To treat alcoholics, psychologists sometimes put a chemical in their drinks that makes them sick. Eventually the taste of
alcohol become aversive.
a. Explain how this technique uses the ideas of classical conditioning to treat alcoholics.
More Classical and Operant Conditioning Examples
1. Phil gets a ticket for driving under the influence resulting in a $500 fine and suspension of his driving license.
Is this classical or operant conditioning?
What's the behavior involved? Will it increase or decrease?
What kind of consequence is involved?
2. Colton is bitten by the neighbor's German Shepherd. Now whenever he sees a dog in the neighborhood, he becomes
afraid and runs away. He still enjoys petting her own family's cocker spaniel.
Is this classical or operant conditioning?
What is the conditioned stimulus? Unconditioned stimulus? Conditioned and unconditioned response?
Is this an example of stimulus generalization? Stimulus discrimination?
3. Mitch’s date was wearing a very alluring perfume on their recent date. The date itself was quite passionate. The
following day when Mitch gets into his car he smells the lingering scent of his date's perfume and becomes transfixed
with joy.
Is this classical or operant conditioning?
What is the unconditioned stimulus? Conditioned stimulus? Unconditioned and conditioned response?
Is this an example of stimulus generalization or discrimination?
Can Mitch forget about his date and just go purchase a bottle of the perfume? Will his reaction subside?
4. Colleen has a panic attack during a plane ride. Now the mere thought of an airplane makes her very nervous. Twenty
years pass and Colleen is still afraid of airplanes even though she never took another flight.
Is this classical or operant conditioning?
What are the US, CS, UR, and CR?
Why hasn't this response extinguished?
5. Shelly is in the grocery store with her dad. As they near the checkout lane, Shelly starts whining for a candy bar
but her dad says no. Shelly begins to cry and cries louder when her dad continues to refuse. At the checkout
lane, in front of the cashier, Shelly throws herself onto the floor and begins screaming. Her dad responds by
grabbing a candy bar and giving it to her. She quickly quiets down and eats her candy bar. This exchange gets
repeated on subsequent trips to the grocery store.
Classical or operant?
What is Shelly's behavior in this example? What kind of consequence follows her behavior?
What is dad's behavior in this example? What kind of consequence follows his behavior?
How should dad handle this situation differently?
6. Your bright cat has learned that your presence in the kitchen is associated with food. Your cat has also learned
that he can encourage your presence in the kitchen on Saturday mornings by standing on your chest and
meowing (when you are obviously trying to sleep). You decide to get up and feed the cat to shut it up, but the
problem only gets worse on subsequent weekends.
Classical or operant? (Be careful with this one!)
You know the drill. If it's operant, what kind of consequence is involved? If it's classical, what are the
assorted stimuli and responses?
Could it be both operant and classical?
7. Your much older sibling throws a wild party at which she consumes too much alcohol (vodka and orange juice).
She becomes very sick and spends a few hours vomiting. The next morning while cleaning up the mess, she gets
a whiff of the vodka and orange juice that were still sitting out in the kitchen. She immediately becomes
nauseated and runs to the bathroom to vomit some more (pretty picture, isn't it?).
Classical or operant?
What are the assorted stimuli and responses involved?
Differentiating between punishment and reinforcement
1.
Conner likes to campout in the backyard and did so every Friday during the month of June. The last time she camped out,
some older kids snuck up to her tent while she was sleeping and threw a bucket of cold water on her. Conner has not
camped-out for three weeks.
What behavior was changed?
Was the behavior strengthened or weakened?
What was the consequence?
Was the consequence added or subtracted?
Since a consequence was
2.
and the behavior was
, the process was
.
Every time Lexi raises her hand in class she is called on. She raised her hand 3 time during the first class, 3 times in the
second and 4 times during the last class.
What behavior was changed?
Was the behavior strengthened or weakened?
What was the consequence?
Was the consequence added or subtracted?
Since the consequence was
3.
and the behavior was
, the process is
.
Andrew is being reinforced using a token economy. When he follows a direction or command he earns a point. When he
misbehaves or doesn't follow a command, he loses points. Andrew used to call his mom names. Since he has been on the
point system, his name calling has been reduced to almost zero.
What behavior was changed?
Was the behavior strengthened or weakened?
What was the consequence?
Was the consequence added or subtracted?
Since the consequence was
4.
and the behavior was
, the process is
.
John does not go to the dentist every 6 months for a checkup. Instead, he waits until a tooth really hurts and then goes to
the dentist. After two emergency trips to the dentist, John now goes every 6 months.
What behavior was changed?
Was the behavior strengthened or weakened?
What was the consequence?
Was the consequence added or subtracted?
Since the consequence was
and the behavior was
, the process is
For each of the following situations, determine whether or not learning has taken place.
1. The cessation of thumb sucking by an infant.
2. The acquisition of language in children.
3. A computer program generates random opening moves for its first 100 chess games and tabulates the outcomes
of those games. Starting with the 101st game, the computer uses those tabulations to influence its choice of
opening moves.
4. A worm is placed in a T maze. The left arm of the maze is brightly lit and dry and the right arm is dim and moist.
On the first 10 trials, the worm turns right 7 times. On the next 10 trials, the worm turns right all 10 times.
5. Ethel stays up late the night before the October ACT and consumes large quantities of licit and illicit drugs. Her
score is 16. The night before the December ACT, she goes to bed early after wholesome dinner and a glass of
milk. Her score increases to 31. Is the change in scores due to learning? Is the change in pretest regimen due to
learning?
6. After pondering over a difficult puzzle for hours, Jane finally figures it out. From that point on, she can solve all
similar puzzles in the time it takes her to read them.
REINFORCEMENT SCHEDULES
In real life, continuous reinforcement is rare. Sometimes responses are reinforced, sometimes not. Among the most
important schedules of partial reinforcement are the fixed ratio (FR), variable ratio (VR), fixed interval (FI), and variable
interval (VI). Identify the schedule in the examples below by writing your answer – FR, VR, FI or VI – in the spaces on the
left.
1.
A senior citizen buying state lottery tickets and winning.
2.
A hotel maid may take a 15-minute break only after having cleaned three rooms.
3.
A man watches and sees shooting stars on a dark night.
4.
A teenager receives an allowance every Saturday.
5.
A woman checks the front porch for a newspaper when the delivery person is extremely unpredictable.
6.
A professional baseball player gets a hit approximately every third time at bat.
7.
A teenager checks the oven to see if chocolate chip cookies are done, when baking time is known.
8.
A blueberry picker receives $1 after filling 3 pint boxes.
9.
A charitable organization makes an average of 10 phone calls for every donation it receives.
10. A busy executive calls a garage mechanic to see if her car is fixed yet.
11. A student’s final grade improves one level for every three book reviews submitted.
12. A student goes to the cafeteria to see if the next meal is available.