Download Module 10: Operant & Cognitive Approaches

Introduction to Psychology
Virginia Union University
Monday October, 3, 2011

Classical Conditioning
 A kind of learning in which a neutral stimulus (NS) acquires the ability to
produce a response that was originally produced by a different stimulus
 Pavlov & his salivating dogs
 Selecting Stimulus & Response
▪ Before conditioning: Neutral Stimulus/NS (bell) = Neutral Response/NR (no salivation)
 Establishing Classical Conditioning
▪ During conditioning: Neutral Stimulus/NS (bell) + Unconditioned Stimulus/UCS (food) =
Unconditioned Response/UCR (salivating dog)
 Testing for Conditioning
▪ After conditioning: Conditioned Stimulus/CS (bell) = Conditioned Response/CR (salivating
dog)
 Balloon demonstration

Balloon Demonstration (fill in the blanks)
 Selecting Stimulus & Response
▪ Before conditioning: NS () = NR ()
 Establishing Classical Conditioning
▪ During conditioning: NS () + UCS () = UCR ()
 Testing for Conditioning
▪ After conditioning: CS () = CR ()

Balloon Demonstration
 Selecting Stimulus & Response
▪ Before conditioning: NS (counting to 3) = NR (no response)
 Establishing Classical Conditioning
▪ During conditioning: NS (counting to 3) + UCS (balloon
popping) = UCR (jumping/bracing for the balloon pop)
 Testing for Conditioning
▪ After conditioning: CS (counting to 3) = CR (jumping/bracing
for the balloon pop)

Other Classical Conditioning Examples?

Operant Conditioning
 Also called instrumental conditioning, is a kind of
learning in which an animal or human performs some
behavior, and the following consequence (reward or
punishment) increases or decreases the chance that
an animal or human will again perform that same
behavior.
 Behavior being repeated depends on whether the
consequence of that behavior is a reward, or a
punishment

Reinforcement
 A consequence that occurs after a behavior and increases
the chance that the behavior will occur again
▪ Examples: $$ for good grades, praise for performing well in a game
▪ Other Examples:

Punishment
 A consequence that occurs after a behavior and decreases
the chance that the behavior will occur again
▪ Examples: expulsion for misbehaving in school, paying fines & fees
for speeding
▪ Other Examples:

Krispy Kremes Example
 Reinforcement:
 Punishment:

Krispy Kremes Example
 Reinforcement: arriving to class on time or early –
receive a donut
 Punishment: arriving to class late – no donuts

Instead, you are expected to use that class time to
complete an assignment that is due in my inbox by
9am on Wednesday October 5th, 2011. They will not
be accepted late.
 Provide 2 examples each of classical conditioning,
reinforcement and punishment (which means that you
should be submitting 6 examples total, 2 for classical
conditioning, 2 for reinforcement and 2 for punishment)
▪ Use the classical conditioning equation described in class to
identify the NS, NR, UCS, UCR, CS and CR for each of your classical
conditioning examples.
▪ If you have any questions about this assignment, please email
([email protected]) or call me.