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Operant Conditioning

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Use operant conditioning, with a program of shaping, to get a sloppy roommate to make the bed neatly. Include and label the antecedent stimulus, response, and reinforcement of the changing program standards, and a method of self-regulation for the roommate.

In a Psychology internship, you have encountered a child with destructive tendencies. She bites herself, her dog, and your bag of supplies. Being afraid for her safety and your own well-being, you institute a plan to change her behavior. Suggest a punishment, with her possible reactions. Then, try substituting an alternative behavior by reinforcing an incompatible response. Label the antecedent stimulus for the biting response, Punishment I or II, escape or avoidance, and the reinforcement for the new named response. What do you consider to be the best theory or method for improving this child's behavior?

Model more effective behavior for someone whom you could positively influence. Name specific details of you (the model), the observer, the behavior, and the reinforcer, using at least five principles of Social Learning Theory.

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Solution Summary

The topic of operant conditioning is discussed and explained and then applied to the case/situation exemplified (see above).

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Operant conditioning is a type of learning where the subject learns to form a voluntary response in order to obtain a consequence. A basic example of this is rewarding a lab rat for pressing a lever by giving them a food pellet. This reinforces the lever pressing.

An antecedent stimulus in this context is a stimulus that comes before the response. An example of this in previous case of the rat lever pressing for food might be that a light comes on inside the chamber at the beginning of the lever pressing session. Over sessions, the rat learns the light coming on is a signal that a lever press will result in food.

Shaping is a type of operant learning where the existing response is gradually changed across successive trials. This gradual change is incremental towards the desired behavior. Thus, steps towards the behavior are reinforced until the ...

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