In-Class Activity

April 19, 2001

 

Identify whether question is classical conditioning, positive reinforcement, negative reinforcement, or punishment (I or II).  Diagram the example based on your answer.

         In answering these questions, remember:

Reinforcement: reinforcement increases behavior by adding (positive) or taking away from the environment (negative)

 

Punishment: punishment decreases behavior by adding an aversive stimulus (PI) or removing a desired stimulus (PII)

 

Classical: Pairs a Neutral stimulus to an Unconditioned stimulus to create a CS→CR

 

1               Teaching a dog to sit using treats

Positive reinforcement, because the behavior “sitting” is increased by adding to the environment

 

Say “Sit”  Dog sits        dog gets treat

SD→        R→             SR+

 

2               Shocking a dog until it jumps over a hurdle

Negative reinforcement, because the behavior “jumping” is increased by taking away from the environment

 

Shock      Jumps hurdle  Shock ends

SD→        R→             SR-

 

3               Johnny gets to watch TV after doing homework

Positive reinforcement, because the behavior “ doing homework” is increased by adding to the environment

 

Bored      Do homework Watch TV

SD →       R→             SR+

 

4               A police officer gives someone a ticket for speeding

Punishment I, because the behavior “speeding” is decreased by adding an aversive stimulus

 

Don’t worry about diagramming.  Just identify speeding as the behavior that is decreased, and the ticket as the punisher.

 

5               A child develops a fear of heights after falling out of a jungle gym.

Classical, because a neutral stimulus is paired with an unconditioned stimulus

 

Heights    Fall              Fear             heights          fear

NS→       UCS→         UCR            CS→            CR

 

6               Sending a child who hates math to the principal halfway into math class for misbehaving during math.

Negative reinforcement, because the behavior “misbehave” is increased by taking away from the environment

 

Boredom   Misbehave     Get out of class

SD→        R→             SR-

 

7               Instituting TV-free study hours after your child brings home a bad report card.

Punishment II, because the behavior “bad grades” is decreased by taking away a desired stimulus

 

Again, don’t worry about diagramming, but identify that getting bad grades is the behavior being decreased, and the punisher is not watching TV.

 

8               Betty is unable to eat baked carrots after being sick while eating some

Classical, because a neutral stimulus is paired with an unconditioned stimulus

 

Carrots     Nausea         Sick             Carrots         Sick

NS→       UCS→         UCR            CS→            CR