Learning Objectives
Content Overview
Practice
1) Describe and diagram in Sd - R - Sreinf format two examples of operant conditioning that may increase complex behavior in infants.
Tips for checking your work
2) Consider at least two examples of how your behavior has been shaped by teachers, parents, law enforcement, or supervisors. Skinner believes that society too often uses aversive means rather than positive reinforcement to shape behavior.
Do your two examples support Skinner's view?
3) Diagram the Sd - R - Sreinf that
is represented in each of the scenarios below:
a) Teacher A finds that his
second period class takes an inordinate amount
of time
to settle down and get ready for class work after the tardy bell
has
rung. Daily, he addresses critical remarks to the worst
offenders, but his
method
has not remedied the problem.
b) Several times per week,
Teacher B gives her fifth period math students
in-class problems to practice new material she has
presented. She allows
the
class 30 minutes to complete the exercise. The class always
has trouble
getting
down to work and staying on task. Few students complete
their
assignments. Teacher B continually nags students through
the work period
to stop
talking and playing with their neighbors and to get to
work. Her
method
is not successful.
3) Using the scenarios above, identify alternative approaches and diagram them.
Are your suggestions based on positive reinforcement or punishment?
4) Consider the following
example then respond to the 2 questions which follow:
A twelve-year-old male experiences extreme anxiety in situations
involving
mathematical calculations and symbols. Each time he is
presented with a task
involving
these manipulations, he becomes anxious and typically fails the
task.
When
questioned concerning the boy's problem, his parents reported
that the
problem
began in second grade, but they were not certain what caused its
onset.
a) Assume that the problem was learned through classical
conditioning.
Explain what the conditioning event may have been that initiated
the
child's anxiety over math. Be sure to use terms connected
to classical
conditioning.
b) Explain the process using operant conditioning that could be
used to help
the child overcome his anxiety in the presence of math
tasks. Be sure to
use terms that are connected with operant conditioning.
Homework
You are awakened in the middle of the night by a phone call. It is the Secretary of Psychology, calling from Washington, D.C. "Can you be ready to leave in five minutes?" she asks. Sleepily, you say yes.
Before you know it,
you are whisked away to the nation's capital aboard Air Force
One.The Secretary seems quite agitated. "We have asked you
here," she says, "because you are the world's foremost
authority on operant conditioning. And we have a problem
here that not even B.F. Skinner would have foreseen."
You are intrigued, and you motion for her to continue. "It
seems that certain soft drink machines are exhibiting life-like
behavior. So far, these machines are restricted to the
southern California region, particularly around Venice Beach."
You are not surprised (after all, it is
California!).
She continues, "Anyway, these machines all act the same. A person puts in 75 cents for a drink, and the machine withholds the soda. Nothing seems to help--- putting in more money, kicking the machine, shaking it, not even unplugging it. Finally, when the poor unsuspecting person reaches up the slot to see if the can is jammed, this happens." She shows you some very grisly pictures. You get the idea. "So far, there are only five machines that have exhibited these behaviors. But we have no way of knowing how many others exists across the nation, or when other machines might spring into action. Can you help us?"
Draw up a plan to:
a) explain why the machines act
the way they do
b) control their violent
behavior, and
c) disguise the fact that they
are alive.
Is the assignment on top too far out on the edge? Here's an alternative that some may find more approachable.
It's the 4th week of school and in the middle of the day, your third grade class is interrupted by the principle. She would like to speak to you in her office. With some reservation, you turn the class over to the media specialist and walk down to the office.
"Glad you came down so quickly. We have a problem and it is going to quickly involve you, and I wanted to give you a heads up."
Now you're concerned. This can't be going someplace you like. "Well, thanks for the warning, what's up?" you ask.
"Don T. bit another student in Mr. Grisham's class. That's the 4th this week. The parents are screaming and I have no choice but to move him. And, given your track record..."
("Run Away. Run Away!" your mind screams- but it's too late.)
"I've decided to move him to your room starting after lunch. I know you'll find a way to help him though this problem and become a model student."
"Thanks" you respond cheerfully. "You know you can count on me!"
Draw up a plan to:
a) explain why this child has taken to biting other students
b) control this obviously inappropriate behavior, and
c) set the stage for appropriate behavior long-term.
When complete- mail me your response so the world will have a way to deal with this menace.
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