Applying Operant Conditioning to Human Behaviour

Applying Operant Conditioning to Human Behaviour

Operant conditioning is when a way of learning by consequence. To put

it basic, an action which is rewarded is more likely to be repeated,

along with an action that is punished is less likely to be repeated.

To apply this to an example of human behaviour, young children may

have shaped behaviour due to operant conditioning; where desireable

behaviour is rewarded (e.g. by giving a toy) the behaviour is being

positively reinforced and is likely to occur. If a young child

behaves in an undesirable way, then they may be punished (e.g. a toy

being taken away from them) therefore this behaviour is negatively

reinforced and is less likely to reoccur.

A dentist tried to soothe the fears of his young patients by showing

them cartoons whilst drilling their teeth. Many years later a former

patient said, “After all these years I still cannot bear to watch

cartoons”.

Outline what is meant by classical conditioning, and show how it could

be used to explain why this person cannot bear to watch cartoons.

Classical conditioning is learning by association. This is simply

learning to associate two events which often occur at the same time.

As in the example, the former patient has associated watching cartoons

with the bad experience of drilling teeth. Because the two have been

associated together, the patient then relates their teeth being

drilled every time they watch cartoons. This is why the patient does

not like to watch cartoons, due to the association with the dentist.

Some psychologists believe that principles of operant and classical

conditioning do not offer adequate expla...

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... Observational learning can also be related

to morals, such as the example given previously.

Outline what is meant by the term mediational processes, and use an

example in your answer.

Mediational processes are the cognitive processes or mental events

that take place between stimulus and response. Usually referred to as

stimulus-organism-response. Whether these be conscious of

unconscious. The organism stated may be an animal, not just a human.

Mediation processes may occur at the conscious or the unconscious

level, and if it is at the conscious level, the person should be able

to report on them, but not if unconscious.

Jack is a young inexperienced lawyer who finds that he often loses his

temper at work.

Outline how Cognitive Psychologists might attempt to explain why Jack

loses his temper at work.