CONDITIONING ASSIGNMENT
Introduction:
You will be identifying examples of learning through conditioning that have happened in your life. You will need to identify and
explain one (3) behaviors you learned through classical conditioning, and (4) behaviors you learned through operant conditioning.
1.
2.
Identify 3 behaviors you learned through classical conditioning and label the UCS, UCR, CS, & CR.
 (Hint) The UCR and CR must be involuntary behaviors
 You may not use taste/food aversion or any example from class
Identify a behavior you learned through operant conditioning for each of the four types of operant conditioning.
 Was it positive punishment, negative punishment, positive reinforcement, or negative reinforcement? Explain!
 You must EXPLAIN how the learning process took place to prove that you labeled the type of operant conditioning
correctly. Failure to do so will result in a reduced grade.
3.
Grading:
4
CLASSICAL
CONDITIONING
OPERANT
CONDITIONING
REQUIREMENTS
3
3 examples of a behavior
that was learned through
classical conditioning is
present. No errors in
identifying the UCS, UCR,
CS, and CR.
3 examples of a behavior
that was learned through
classical conditioning is
present. No more than 2
errors in identifying the
UCS, UCR, CS, and CR.
4 examples of a behavior
learned through operant
conditioning are included
and the type of Operant
conditioning is correctly
identified for all 4.
4 examples of behavior
learned through operant
conditioning are included.
The type of operant
conditioning is correctly
identified for 3 out of 4.
3 examples of classical
conditioning, other than a
taste aversion, and 4
different types of operant
conditioning are included.
Less than 3 examples of
classical conditioning,
other than a taste
aversion, OR only 3
different types of operant
conditioning are included.
2
1
Two examples of a
behavior that was learned
through classical
conditioning is present.
No more than 3 errors in
identifying the UCS,
UCR, CS, and CR.
4 examples of behavior
learned through operant
conditioning are included.
The type of operant
conditioning is correctly
identified for only 2 out
of 4.
Less than 2 examples of
classical conditioning OR
only 2 types of operant
conditioning are included.
An example of a behavior
that was learned through
classical conditioning is
included, OR all of the
parts are incorrectly
identified.
4 examples are not
clearly identified or the
type of operant
conditioning is not
correctly identified for
any of the examples.
No examples of classical
conditioning was
included or no example
of operant conditioning
was included.
Sample:
Review the following sample before beginning your project.
Requirement #1: Classical Conditioning
As a kid, I never liked tuna. When I got older, I decided to try it though. At the time, I had an uneasy stomach due to a recent illness. Well, I ate the tuna and then
became extremely nauseated. I now get nauseas whenever I smell tuna.
UCS – Stomach bug/illness
CS – Tuna
UCR – uneasy stomach/nausea
CR – uneasy stomach/nausea when smelling tuna
Requirement #2: Operant Conditioning – 3 behaviors
Tom was pulled over for speeding and received a ticket. He no longer speeds on the highway

POSITIVE PUNISHMENT

Getting a speeding ticket was positive punishment for speeding. Something that I did not want (ticket) was added to weaken
my behavior of speeding.
Whenever I make a good play during my basketball game, my coach pats me on the back and says “good job”.

POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT

Getting a pat on the back was positive reinforcement for making a good play. Something that I want (pat on the back) was
added to strengthen the behavior of making a good play.
I was listening to the radio in the car with my mom and she kept singing along with the radio. She doesn’t sing very well so it was really
bothering me. I started turning the radio off every time she started to sing.

NEGATIVE PUNISHMENT

Turning the radio off was negative punishment for my mom’s bad singing. I weakened my mom’s behavior of singing
along with the radio by taking away something she wanted (the song).
When I was little, I would throw a temper tantrum when I didn’t get my way. This always prompted to give my parents what I wanted. In
exchange, I stopped embarrassing them with my tantrum.

NEGATIVE REINFORCEMENT

Removing the temper tantrum and embarrassment strengthened the behavior of my parents giving me what I want. I
conditioned them by subtracting something unwanted.