Classical & Operant Conditioning Examples (Set 1)
(1) Robert gets a ticket for driving under the influence that results in a $500 fine and
suspension of his driving license.



Is this classical or operant conditioning?
What's the behavior involved? Will it increase or decrease?
What kind of consequence is involved?
Explanation: This is operant conditioning because the behavior is voluntary
and it was followed with a consequence. The behavior is driving under the
influence and it should decrease in this example (a strict behaviorist would
obviously want some proof of this first). The consequences are both negative
punishments. They would be punishments because the behavior will decrease and
they are negative because they both involve something taken away (money and
driving privileges).
(2) Chris is bitten by the neighbor's German Shepherd. Now whenever she sees a dog in
the neighborhood, she becomes afraid and runs away. She still enjoys petting her own
family's cocker spaniel.



Is this classical or operant conditioning?
What is the conditioned stimulus? Unconditioned stimulus? Conditioned and
unconditioned response?
Is this an example of stimulus generalization? Stimulus discrimination?
Explanation: This example is a bit more complicated because it involves
mostly classical conditioning, but operant conditioning is present too. Her fear
response is classically conditioned, because it is an automatic response. Her
behavior of running away is operant conditioning because it is a voluntary
behavior. The CS in this example is the sight of a dog in the neighborhood. The
US was the dog bite from the German Shepherd. The UR and the CR are both
fear. Stimulus generalization occurs when her CR generalizes to other dogs in the
neighborhood. Her behavior shows discrimination in that the CR does not occur
with her own dog.
(3) Jacob's date was wearing a very alluring cologne on their recent date. The date itself
was quite passionate. The following day when Jacob gets into his car he smells the
lingering scent of his date's cologne and becomes transfixed with joy.




Is this classical or operant conditioning?
What is the unconditioned stimulus? Conditioned stimulus? Unconditioned and
conditioned response?
Is this an example of stimulus generalization or discrimination?
Can Jacob forget about his date and just go purchase a bottle of the cologne? Will
his reaction subside?
Explanation: This is an example of classical conditioning, because the response
of becoming transfixed with joy is automatic. The US would be the passionate
date, which led to the UR of a joyful reaction. The CS was the scent of the
cologne and the CR would be the joyful reaction. Stimulus generalization and
discrimination are not involved here, but could be if Jacob responds in a similar
way to other colognes and then develops a specific response to just the cologne
worn by his date.
(4) Martin has a panic attack during a plane ride. Now the mere thought of an airplane
makes him very nervous. Twenty years pass and Martin is still afraid of airplanes even
though he never took another flight.



Is this classical or operant conditioning?
What are the US, CS, UR, and CR?
Why hasn't this response extinguished?
Explanation: This example is primarily classical conditioning, because his fear
response is automatic. (However, the choice to avoid planes would be a
voluntary, operant conditioning, behavior.) The US would be the panic attack and
the UR would be the fear it automatically triggered. The CS would be the
airplane and the CR would be fear (the response has apparently generalized to all
planes). The response hasn't extinguished in 20 years because Martin never went
through extinction. He would need to be exposed to the CS (airplanes) without
the US (panic attacks) over many trials for his CR (fear) to extinguish.
(5) Shelly is in the grocery store with her dad. As they near the checkout lane, Shelly
starts whining for a candy bar but her dad says no. Shelly begins to cry and cries louder
when her dad continues to refuse. At the checkout lane, in front of the cashier, Shelly
throws herself onto the floor and begins screaming. Her dad responds by grabbing a
candy bar and giving it to her. She quickly quiets down and eats her candy bar. This
exchange gets repeated on subsequent trips to the grocery store.




Classical or operant?
What is Shelly's behavior in this example? What kind of consequence follows her
behavior?
What is dad's behavior in this example? What kind of consequence follows his
behavior?
How should dad handle this situation differently?
Explanation: This example is operant conditioning, because most of the
behaviors in question are voluntary (whining, temper tantrums, giving candy bars,
being quiet). Shelly's behavior is whining (then crying and throwing a temper
tantrum), which is followed eventually by a candy bar. This is an example of
positive reinforcement because something is given to her (the candy bar), which
will increase her behavior (crying, whining) in the future. Dad's behavior is
giving the candy bar, which is followed with peace and quiet. This is an example
of negative reinforcement because something is taken away (the crying and
whining) and dad's behavior (giving candy bars) will increase in the future. The
obvious problem in this situation is that undesirable behaviors are being
reinforced, which will make matters worse in the future. There are many ways
the dad could handle the situation better, but the bottom line is to avoid providing
reinforcement for a behavior that is undesirable. He could ignore the behavior
(extinction) or he could punish the behavior (for example, using a negative
punishment like taking away the privilege of going to the grocery store in the
future).
(6) Your bright cat has learned that your presence in the kitchen is associated with food.
Your cat has also learned that he can encourage your presence in the kitchen on Saturday
mornings by standing on your chest and meowing (when you are obviously trying to
sleep). You decide to get up and feed the cat to shut it up, but the problem only gets
worse on subsequent weekends.



Classical or operant? (Be careful with this one!)
You know the drill. If it's operant, what kind of consequence is involved? If it's
classical, what are the assorted stimuli and responses?
Could it be both operant and classical?
Explanation: Most of what I have described here is operant conditioning
because it involves voluntary behaviors (cat standing on your chest and meowing,
you getting up and feeding the cat). However, there is also an undescribed
element of classical conditioning in which the cat has learned to associate you
with the delivery of food and now automatically responds to your presence in the
kitchen with a similar emotional response (joy?). The cat's behavior of bothering
you is positively reinforced because the cat receives something (food) and the
behavior increases. Your behavior is negatively reinforced because feeding the
cat puts an end to its annoying behavior and we would expect you to repeat this
behavior in the future. This is essentially the same as the preceding example and I
would recommend a different course unless you enjoy the cat's annoying
behavior. It will probably backfire if you try to punish the cat for meowing, so
the best thing to do is to ignore the cat (extinction) and feed it when it is being
quiet.
(7) You throw a wild party at which you consume too much alcohol (vodka and orange
juice). You become very sick and spend a few hours vomiting. The next morning while
cleaning up the mess, you get a whiff of the vodka and orange juice that were still sitting
out in the kitchen. You immediately become nauseated and run to the bathroom to vomit
some more (pretty picture, isn't it?).


Classical or operant?
What are the assorted stimuli and responses involved?
Explanation: The main focus in this example is on classically conditioned
behaviors, because nausea is an automatic response. (However, I should point
out that throwing parties, drinking alcohol, and learning from your mistakes are
voluntary and would be examples of operant conditioning.) The US is nausea
(caused by alcohol poisoning) and the UR is the retching and vomit reflex. The
CS is the smell of vodka/orange juice (both or either) and the CR is the retching
and vomit reflex. (You would probably also have a strong CS-CR with the taste
and possibly the sight of vodka and orange juice.)