Classical and Operant Conditioning Examples
Directions: For each example below, decide if the behavior in question was acquired through operant or
classical conditioning. If operant conditioning, identify which type of consequence was responsible for
the behavior change (i.e., positive/negative reinforcement; positive/negative punishment). If classical
conditioning, identify the UCS, UCR, CS, and CR.
1. Every time someone flushes a toilet in the apartment building, the shower becomes very hot and
causes the person to jump back. Over time, the person begins to jump back automatically after hearing
the flush, before the water temperature changes.
This example is classical conditioning because jumping away from hot water is an automatic
response.
 The hot water is the UCS
 The jumping back is the UCR
 The toilet flush is the CS
 The jumping back to the flush alone is the CR
2. Your father gives you a credit card at the end of your first year in college because you did so well. As
a result, your grades continue to get better in your second year.
This example is operant conditioning because school performance is a voluntary behavior. The
credit card is a positive reinforcement because it is given and it increases the behavior.
3. Your car has a red, flashing light that blinks annoyingly if you start the car without buckling the seat
belt. You become less likely to start the car without buckling the seat belt.
This example is operant conditioning because buckling a seat belt is voluntary. The flashing light is
a positive punishment. After this consequence is given, the behavior of not buckling the seat belt
decreases.
4. You eat a new food and then get sick because of the flu. However, you develop a dislike for the food
and feel nauseated whenever you smell it.
This example is classical conditioning because nausea is an automatic response.
 The flu sickness is the UCS.
 The nausea is the UCR.
 The new food is the CS.
 The nausea to the new food is the CR.
5. An individual receives frequent injections of drugs, which are administered in a small examination
room at a clinic. The drug itself causes increased heart rate but after several trips to the clinic, simply
being in a small room causes an increased heart rate.
This example is classical conditioning because the increased heart rate is an automatic response.
 The drug is the UCS.
 The accelerated heart rate is the UCR.
 The small room is the CS.
 The accelerated heart rate to the room is the CR.
6. A lion in a circus learns to stand up on a chair and jump through a hoop to receive a food treat.
This example is operant conditioning because standing on a chair and jumping through a hoop are
voluntary behaviors. The food treat is a positive reinforcement because it is given and it increases
the behavior.
7. A professor has a policy of exempting students from the final exam if they maintain perfect attendance
during the quarter. His students’ attendance increases dramatically.
This example is operant conditioning because attendance is a voluntary behavior. The exemption
from the final exam is a negative reinforcement because something is taken away that increases the
behavior (attendance).
8. After a bad car accident, a student cringes and breaks into a sweat at the sound of squealing brakes.
This is Classical conditioning. The cringing, which is an unconditioned response to pain or fear,
was produced by the accident and its accompanying pain (UCS). That accident was probably preceded
by the sound of squealing brakes, which became a conditioned stimulus for the conditioned
response of cringing.
9. You check the coin return slot on a pay telephone and find a quarter. You find yourself checking other
telephones over the next few days.
This is an example of operant conditioning because checking the coin return slot is a voluntary
behavior. The quarter would be a positive reinforcement because it was given and led to an increase
in the behavior.
10. The smell of fresh bread baking makes your mouth water.
This is probably the result of Classical conditioning. In the past the smell of the fresh bread
immediately preceded putting a piece in your mouth, which causes salivation. Through the mechanism
of Classical conditioning the smell itself comes to elicit salivation.
11. Your hands are cold so you put your gloves on. In the future, you are more likely to put gloves on
when it’s cold.
This is an example of operant conditioning because putting gloves on is a voluntary behavior. The
consequence is a negative reinforcement because the coldness is taken away and the behavior of
putting on gloves increases.
12. John Watson conducted an experiment with a boy named Albert in which he paired a white rat with a
loud, startling noise. Albert now becomes startled at the sight of the white rat.
This is an example of classical conditioning because a startle response is an automatic behavior.
 The loud noise is the UCS.
 The startle is the UCR.
 The white rat is the CS.
 The startle response to the white rat is the CR.
13. When a professor first starts teaching about a concept, she'll praise any answer that is close to the right
answer.
This describes the process of shaping the operant behavior of answering questions, using positive
reinforcement (praise). In shaping you start by reinforcing anything that is close to the final response.
Then you gradually require closer and closer approximations before giving a reinforcer.
14. In a weight management class, participants earn points for every healthy meal they eat and every
period of exercise they complete. Later these points result in refunds of their class fees.
This is operant conditioning of healthy eating and regular exercise. The awarding of points (a
version of a token system since they are exchanged for the refunds later) is a positive reinforcement.
The refund of the fees is a negative reinforcement.
15. In order to be able to punish your cat when you’re not near enough to reach him, you have paired the
sound of a clicker with getting squirted with water. Now the sound of the clicker causes him to startle.
The click is developing the same aversive properties as the water through Classical Conditioning.
 The US is the water;
 the UR is the "jump" as in startle.
 The click starts our as a neutral stimulus, but becomes the CS capable of producing the CR
(conditioned "jump" response).
16. When your son has gone for a week without arguing with his sister, he gets to choose which favorite
activity he wants to engage in on Friday night.
This is operant conditioning, and an example of using Premack reinforcement by letting your son
engage in a favorite activity (positive reinforcement) when he has been able to refrain from arguing
for a week. This is an example of differential reinforcement of other behavior, anything other than
arguing will be reinforced in this Operant conditioning paradigm.
17. To treat alcoholics, we sometimes put a chemical in their drinks that makes them sick. Eventually the
taste of alcohol become aversive and they drink less.
This is Classical conditioning. The chemical that makes the drinker sick (UCS) is being paired with
the taste of alcohol (CS) so that the alcohol itself becomes the conditioned stimulus for being sick
(UCR to the chemical; becomes a CR to the alcohol/taste).
Sources: http://www.ar.cc.mn.us/biederman/courses/p1110/conditioning2.htm
http://www.utexas.edu/courses/svinicki/ald320/CCOC.html