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NAME:
HOUR:
CLASSICAL OR OPERANT CONDITIONING?
Scene 1
A very bright (mildly painful) light is turned on a rat. The rat has learned that he can turn off the light by pressing
a lever on the other side of his cage. As soon as the light comes on, the rat runs across the cage and presses the lever.
This is operant conditioning because pressing the lever is voluntary.
 The light serves as negative reinforcement for pressing the lever.
Scene 2
When a mother strokes he infant’s skin, the stroking creates a pleasure in the baby. After this goes on for many
days, the baby begins to show pleasure in responses simply at the sight of the mother (before even being touched).
This is classical conditioning because the pleasure happens automatically.
 UCS=Stroking of the skin
 UCR=Pleasure
 CS=Sight of the Mother
 CR=Pleasure
Scene 3
A patient in a mental hospital is very disruptive at mealtimes. She grabs food from the plates of those sitting near
her and tries to cram the food in her mouth. Because this behavior of stealing food is very undesirable, a plan is developed
whereby every time the patient steals food from other plates, she is immediately taken to a room without food.
This is Operant conditioning because she is choosing to steal food.
 The removal from food & social interaction negatively punishes her stealing
Scene 4
Johnny has gotten into a habit of yelling “Bye, Mom” and then slamming the door very loudly in his hurry to leave
for school in the morning. The door slam causes his mother to flinch. After several days of procedure, Johnny’s mother
begins to flinch at the sound of her son’s word, “Bye, Mom.”
This is classical conditioning because the flinching is uncontrollable.
 UCS=Door Slam
 UCR=Flinch
 CS=The word “Bye, Mom”
 CR=Flinch
Scene 5
Imagine you have a friend who keeps the temperature in her home so high that each occasion in which you visit
her, you find yourself perspiring. The last time you visited her, you noticed that you began to perspire and became
uncomfortable as soon as you saw her house (before you even got inside).
This is classical conditioning because you can’t control perspiration.
 UCS=Heat
 UCR=Perspiration
 CS= Sight of the House
 CR=Flinch
Scene 6
5 year old Fred starts crying and making a scene in the grocery store when his father says that he cannot have any
Frosted Flakes. As the tantrum continues, the father eventually gives in and allows his son to put the Frosted Flakes in the
cart. (2 examples here!)
Fred is Operantly Conditioning his father.
 He is using Negative Reinforcement by stopping his tantrum when his dad gives in.
The father is Operantly Conditioning Fred.
 He is using Positive Reinforcement by rewarding the tantrum with Frosted Flakes.
Scene 7
Chris is bitten by the neighbor's German Shepherd. Now whenever she sees a dog in the neighborhood, she becomes afraid
and runs away. She still enjoys petting her own family's cocker spaniel.
This is primarily classical conditioning because his fear response (SNS) is automatic.
 UCS=Being bitten by the dog.
 UCR=fear
 CS= Sight of the dog
 CR=fear
 Stimulus Generalizaton: Runs away from other dogs in the neighborhood.
 Stimulus Discrimination: Not scared of her own dog.
Also Operant Conditioning: Not getting close is a voluntary choice.
 The bite was a positive punishment for the behavior of getting close to the dog.
Scene 8
A baseball player steps up to the plate. He retightens his batting gloves and then readjusts his batting helmet. He goes on
to score a hit and drive in the winning run. He goes on to repeat this ritual before every pitch.
This example is operant conditioning because the ritual is his choice (even though he would have anxiety if he didn’t).
 His ritual was positively reinforced by the hit that followed it.
Scene 9
Your car has a red, flashing light that blinks annoyingly if you start the car without buckling the seat belt. You become less
likely to start the car without buckling the seat belt.
This example is operant conditioning because buckling a seat belt is voluntary.
 The flashing light is a positive punishment for the behavior of not buckling the seat belt
 There is also negative reinforcement to buckle as the noise shuts off once you do it.
Scene 10
Martin has a panic attack during a plane ride. Now the mere thought of an airplane makes him very nervous. Twenty years
pass and Martin is still afraid of airplanes even though he never took another flight.
This is largely classically conditioned as you can’t control fear
 UCS=Panic Attack
 UCR= Plane
 CS= Plane
 CR=fear
Also an element of operant conditioning:You choose to not go on a plane to avoid the positive punishment of a panic atck.
*Since he hasn’t gone on a plane, he hasn’t had an opportunity to go through extinction. (Behavioral Therapy/Exposure)*
NAME:
HOUR:
CLASSICAL OR OPERANT CONDITIONING?
In each of the following descriptions of learning situations, you are asked to identify whether classical of operant
conditioning applies. Further, you are asked to determine what learning principle(s) seem relevant.
1.
2.
Instructions
If you decide the situation seems to be an example of classical conditioning, you should label the UCS
(Unconditioned stimulus), UCR (Unconditioned response), CS (Conditioned stimulus), and CR (conditioned
response).
If you decide the situation seems to be an example of operant conditioning, you should decide which of the
following principles best fits:
A. Positive reinforcement
B. Negative reinforcement
C. Positive punishment
D. Negative punishment
Scene 1
A very bright (mildly painful) light is turned on a rat. The rat has learned that he can turn off the light by pressing
a lever on the other side of his cage. As soon as the light comes on, the rat runs across the cage and presses the lever.
Scene 2
When a mother strokes he infant’s skin, the stroking creates a pleasure in the baby. After this goes on for many
days, the baby begins to show pleasure in responses simply at the sight of the mother (before even being touched).
Scene 3
A patient in a mental hospital is very disruptive at mealtimes. She grabs food from the plates of those sitting near
her and tries to cram the food in her mouth. Because this behavior of stealing food is very undesirable, a plan is developed
whereby every time the patient steals food from other plates, she is immediately taken to a room without food.
Scene 4
Johnny has gotten into a habit of yelling “Bye, Mom” and then slamming the door very loudly in his hurry to leave
for school in the morning. The door slam causes his mother to flinch. After several days of procedure, Johnny’s mother
begins to flinch at the sound of her son’s word, “Bye, Mom.”
Scene 5
Imagine you have a friend who keeps the temperature in her home so high that each occasion in which you visit
her, you find yourself perspiring. The last time you visited her, you noticed that you began to perspire and became
uncomfortable as soon as you saw her house (before you even got inside).
Scene 6
5 year old Fred starts crying and making a scene in the grocery store when his father says that he cannot have any
Frosted Flakes. As the tantrum continues, the father eventually gives in and allows his son to put the Frosted Flakes in the
cart. (2 examples here!)
Scene 7
Chris is bitten by the neighbor's German Shepherd. Now whenever she sees a dog in the neighborhood, she becomes afraid
and runs away. She still enjoys petting her own family's cocker spaniel.
Scene 8
A baseball player steps up to the plate. He retightens his batting gloves and then readjusts his batting helmet. He goes on
to score a hit and drive in the winning run. He goes on to repeat this ritual before every pitch.
Scene 9
Your car has a red, flashing light that blinks annoyingly if you start the car without buckling the seat belt. You become less
likely to start the car without buckling the seat belt.
Scene 10
Martin has a panic attack during a plane ride. Now the mere thought of an airplane makes him very nervous. Twenty years
pass and Martin is still afraid of airplanes even though he never took another flight.