Undergraduate Home Announcements Syllabus Modules Grades Cou

Undergraduate Home Announcements Syllabus Modules Grades Course Policies Writing Center & Library

Undergraduate home announcements, syllabus, modules, grades, course policies, Writing Center & Library, course resources. This is a graded discussion: 4 points possible due Jun 8 at 10:58pm Week 3 - Discussion 1. Your initial discussion thread is due on Day 3 (Thursday) and you have until Day 7 (Monday) to respond to your classmates. Your grade will reflect both the quality of your initial post and the depth of your responses. Refer to the Discussion Forum Grading Rubric under the Settings icon above for guidance on how your discussion will be evaluated.

Learning: Classroom of Life

To prepare for this discussion, please read Chapter 5 of your textbook. In addition, watch Classical and Operant Conditioning. Finally, review Instructor Guidance and Announcements. In this discussion, you will consider learning from a psychological perspective by explaining operant conditioning and applying it to a real-life scenario. Be sure to use your own academic voice and apply in-text citations appropriately throughout your post.

Watch Classical and Operant Conditioning, which distinguishes between classical and operant conditioning by describing many important concepts. Discuss learning. In your discussion, include the following:

- Describe operant conditioning.

- Select one of the following situations from everyday life in which learning (a relatively permanent change in behavior) is desirable:

- Margot wants her husband, Todd, to stop leaving his dirty laundry on the floor.

- Coach K wants to increase his basketball players’ free throw percentages.

- Mr. Moore wants his dog to stop jumping up on visitors.

- Biggs Boss wants his employees to arrive on time.

- Mrs. O’Neill wants her preschoolers to raise their hands before speaking.

- Joe wants his son to earn good grades.

- Jack wants his girlfriend, Jill, to show more affection.

- Marty wants his friend, Dave, to stop smoking.

- Insert your own situation: ____________________________________

- Prepare a behavior modification plan in which you effectively utilize operant conditioning principles to change the behavior of the targeted individual(s). Clearly identify and describe suitable reinforcers or punishers to attain your desired outcome.

- Justify your use of reinforcement and/or punishment as applied to the scenario, explaining why you chose it and why you expect it to work.

- Consider ethical implications of operant conditioning. Remember to use your own academic voice and appropriate in-text citations throughout your post.

Paper For Above instruction

Undergraduate Home Announcements Syllabus Modules Grades Course Policies Writing Center & Library

Understanding the principles of operant conditioning is fundamental in psychology, especially when applied to behavior modification in real-life situations. Operant conditioning, initially studied by B.F. Skinner, refers to a learning process where behaviors are influenced by their consequences, either through reinforcement or punishment (Skinner, 1953). This form of learning involves an active process where an individual’s behavior is strengthened or weakened based on the stimuli that follow it, thereby enabling strategic behavior modification.

Description of Operant Conditioning

Operant conditioning centers on the idea that behaviors followed by favorable consequences tend to be repeated, whereas those followed by unfavorable consequences are less likely to occur. Reinforcers, whether positive or negative, increase the likelihood of a behavior, while punishers decrease it (Chance, 2013). For example, giving a child praise for completing homework serves as positive reinforcement to encourage continued effort. Conversely, imposing a timeout after misbehavior functions as negative punishment aimed at reducing undesirable behavior.

Behavioral Scenario and Modification Plan

Considering the scenario of Margot wanting her husband Todd to stop leaving his dirty laundry on the floor, a suitable behavior modification plan would involve operant conditioning techniques. To promote the desired change—Todd keeping his laundry off the floor—the plan could integrate both reinforcement and punishment strategies.

First, positive reinforcement could be applied by rewarding Todd each time he consistently places his laundry in the hamper. For example, Margot could offer praise or a small reward, such as watching his favorite TV show, when Todd keeps his laundry sorted. This increases the probability that Todd will repeat this behavior. Second, to discourage leaving laundry on the floor, Margot might implement a negative punishment, such as removing a privilege (e.g., no weekend gaming) if she finds laundry on the floor. This combination aims to identify and reinforce the desired behavior while discouraging the undesired one.

Justification and Ethical Considerations

The choice of positive reinforcement is justified because it emphasizes encouraging desirable behavior through pleasant stimuli, which typically yields sustainable results (Lepper et al., 1973). Rewards like verbal praise are non-intrusive and foster positive interactions. Negative punishment, such as loss of privileges, is effective in reducing unwanted behavior when applied consistently. Ethical considerations include ensuring that punishments do not cause harm or emotional distress and that reinforcement methods respect individual dignity (Baum, 2017). Collectively, this approach aligns with ethical standards that advocate for humane and respectful behavior modification techniques.

Expected Outcomes and Effectiveness

This plan is expected to increase Todd’s compliance with keeping his laundry off the floor by associating the behavior with positive outcomes and the removal of undesirable consequences. The reinforcement increases the likelihood that Todd will internalize and maintain the behavior over time, especially if the rewards align with his preferences. Consistency in applying these principles enhances the likelihood of success and fosters a cooperative environment suitable for behavioral change.

Conclusion

Operant conditioning provides a practical framework for modifying behaviors in everyday life by strategically applying reinforcement and punishment. When implemented ethically and consistently, these techniques can foster lasting behavioral changes that improve personal relationships and daily functioning.

References

• Baum, W. M. (2017). Understanding behaviorism: Behavior, culture, and evolution. John Wiley & Sons.
• Chance, P. (2013). Learning and behavior (7th ed.). Cengage Learning.
• Lepper, M. R., Greene, D., & Nisbett, R. E. (1973). Child's play: The use of enrichment strategies. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 28(1), 79–93.
• Skinner, B. F. (1953). Science and human behavior. Free Press.