Examples

Learned Helplessness

Integrative Essay

• Now that you have read a chapter on both Pavlovian and Operant conditioning, you should be able to clearly differentiate the two components of conditioning, even when they occur in the same instance of behavior. Give an original example of human behavior and differentiate the Pavlovian and Operant components in this example.

• The study of operant behavior is the study of how environmental events affect the likelihood of us behaving in certain ways in the future. Contingency Relationships in Operant Conditioning presents a summary of the basic categories of operant conditioning. Come up with an original example from your own experience of: positive reinforcement* , negative reinforcement (one each for both escape and avoidance), positive punishment , and negative punishment. Make the examples meaningful and explain in some detail the components of each example and why your example is the specific type of behavior that you claim it is.

  *Also describe this example in terms of the Premack Principle.

• Don't forget to Make Up Your Own question on operant conditioning and post it to our Nicenet conference. Be sure to explain why you are interested in this question.

  To Think About

  1. Suppose that you have a three year old child and he picks his nose incessantly. You have a rich aunt who is offended by such behavior and will cut your family out of the will if she sees him doing it when she visits next week. You have decided that this behavior must stop at all costs and have decided that punishment is the best way to eliminate it. What steps would you take in an effort to maximize the effects of the punishment? Be specific: what sort of punisher would you use, etc.

     If this were really your kid, how would you deal with this problem?