Final Note of Extreme Isolation

Valerie DiGloria
Mr. Matthews
PSY 150-108
March 18, 2015

Learning HW
Part A.

Read each of the following examples.

I. If you decide the situation seems to be an example of classical conditioning, you should label the UCS, UCR, CS, and CR.

II. If you decide the situation seems to be an example of operant conditioning, you should identify whether it is positive or negative reinforcement, or punishment.

SITUATION 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 room and presses the lever.

A. The behavior of pressing the lever is an example of _____Operant_____ conditioning.

B. If you chose classical, follow part I of the instructions; if you chose operant, follow part II.

This is negative reinforcement, because the light is being taken away (negative) so the rat will hit the lever more (reinforcement)

SITUATION 2
When another strokes her infant's skin, the stroking creates pleasure responses in the baby. After this goes on for many days, the baby begins to show pleasure responses simply at the sight of the mother (before even being touched).

A. The baby's pleasure response is an example of ______Classical_______ conditioning.

B. If you chose classical, follow part I of the instructions; if you chose operant, follow part II.

UCS: Mother stroking baby UCR: Pleasure responses
  CS: Sight of the mother   CR: Pleasure responses


SITUATION 3
A child is very disruptive at mealtimes. She grabs food from the plates of her siblings and tries to cram the food into her mouth. Because this behavior of stealing food is very undesirable, every time she acts this way, her parents place her in time out.

A. The parents are attempting to change the behavior of stealing through _Operant__ conditioning.

B. If you chose classical, follow part I of the instructions; if you chose operant, follow part II.

This...