Hello , I need help with these examples about Operant Conditiong. For each item

Question

Hello , I need help with these examples about Operant Conditiong.

For each item below identify the behavior being strengthened, select whether it is being positively or negatively reinforced, and describe the rewarding stimulus or the adverse stimulus removed.

1.   Taking cough syrup to stop coughing.

Behavior:

Postive or negative reinforecemnt

2.   Giving a student a gold star for making no mistakes on a quiz.

Beghavior :

Postive or negative reinforecement

3.   Giving the employee of the month the best parking spot.

4.   Running into the house from the car in the winter to get out of the cold.

5.   Starting a basketball player who made an exceptionally good effort in the previous game.

6.   Giving in to an argument.

7.   Smoking in order to relieve anxiety.

8.   Giving a child an allowance for doing all his or her household chores.

9.   Fanning yourself in order to escape the heat.

10.   Hitting the snooze alarm instead of getting out of bed.

Plase for each example above tell me the Behavior that is being reinforced, and the postive or negative things.

Explanation / Answer

Please find below the answers and explanations for each situation:

1. Taking cough syrup to stop coughing.

Behavior: When taking cough syrup will stop coughing, the individual will be reinforced to take it every time he/she has cough. Thus, taking cough syrup is the reinforced behavior. The cough is the adverse stimulus that is removed in this case.

Positive or negative reinforcement: It is a negative reinforcement, as taking cough syrup will eliminate the adverse stimulus and the individual will find it soothing to get rid of cough. He/she is likely to repeat the behavior to eliminate cough.

2. Giving a student a gold star for making no mistakes on a quiz.

Behavior: The student will find it rewarding to get a gold star on making no mistakes. Thus, making no mistakes on a quiz is the reinforced behavior. The gold star is the rewarding stimulus in this case.

Positive or negative reinforcement: It is a positive reinforcement, as the gold star is being given as a reward to repeat the behavior of making no mistakes. Thus, the student is likely to repeat the behavior.

3. Giving the employee of the month the best parking spot.

Behavior: The employee who becomes the ‘employee of the month’ is getting the reward of the best parking spot. Thus, his/her behavior of trying to become the ‘employee of the month’ each time is the reinforced behavior. The best parking spot is the rewarding stimulus in this case.

Positive or negative reinforcement: It is a positive reinforcement, as the best parking spot is acting as a reward for the employee who has become the ‘employee of the month’. This will push the employee to repeat his/her behavior.

4. Running into the house from the car in the winter to get out of the cold.

Behavior: By escaping from the car and running to the house, an individual is avoiding an adverse stimulus. Thus, running from the car when it is cold will be the reinforced behavior. The winter cold is the adverse stimulus in this case.

Positive or negative reinforcement: It is a negative reinforcement, as it is the removal or avoidance of an adverse stimulus (cold) that is rewarding the behavior of running in an individual. He/she is likely to repeat the behavior.

5. Starting a basketball player who made an exceptionally good effort in the previous game.

Behavior: The player is being rewarded with a start in the new game because of making good efforts in the previous game. Thus, the player making good efforts in every game will be the reinforced behavior. Giving the player a start in the new game is the rewarding stimulus in this case.

Positive or negative reinforcement: It is a positive reinforcement, as the start in a new game is acting as a reward for the player who performed well in the last game. This will lead the player to repeat his/her behavior.

6. Giving in to an argument.

Behavior: By giving in to an argument, an individual is avoiding or escaping an adverse stimulus. Thus, giving in every time it becomes an argument will be the reinforced behavior. The argument is the adverse stimulus in this case, as the person wants to avoid getting into it.

Positive or negative reinforcement: It is a negative reinforcement, as it is the removal or avoidance of an adverse stimulus (argument) that is rewarding the behavior of giving in to it. The individual is likely to repeat his/her behavior.

7. Smoking in order to relieve anxiety.

Behavior: As smoking will eliminate anxiety, the individual will be reinforced to smoke whenever he/she is anxious. Thus, smoking is the reinforced behavior. The anxiety is the adverse stimulus that is removed in this case.

Positive or negative reinforcement: It is a negative reinforcement, as smoking will help the individual to eliminate the negative stimulus and the individual will feel relieved as a result. He/she is likely to repeat the behavior to get rid of anxiety.

8. Giving a child an allowance for doing all his or her household chores.

Behavior: The child will find it rewarding to get an allowance on completing his/her household chores. Thus, completing his/her household chores every day is the reinforced behavior. The allowance is the rewarding stimulus in this case.

Positive or negative reinforcement: It is a positive reinforcement, as the allowance is being given as a reward to repeat the behavior of completing chores. Thus, the child is likely to repeat the behavior.

9. Fanning yourself in order to escape the heat.

Behavior: As fanning yourself will help in escaping the heat, you will be reinforced to fan yourself when it is hot. Thus, fanning yourself when it is hot is the reinforced behavior. The heat is the adverse stimulus that is removed in this case.

Positive or negative reinforcement: It is a negative reinforcement, as fanning will help you to eliminate the negative stimulus and you will feel relieved. You are likely to repeat the behavior to get rid of the heat every time.

10. Hitting the snooze alarm instead of getting out of bed.

Behavior: As hitting the snooze alarm will avoid the individual’s negative feeling of getting out of bed, the individual will be reinforced to hit it when he/she does not want to get out of bed. Thus, hitting the snooze alarm is the reinforced behavior. The feeling of getting out of bed is the adverse stimulus that is avoided in this case by hitting a snooze alarm.

Positive or negative reinforcement: It is a negative reinforcement, as hitting a snooze alarm will help the individual to avoid the negative stimulus and the individual will feel relaxed as a result. He/she is likely to repeat the behavior.

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