Problem
I. Classical conditioning can sometimes be difficult to apply to everyday life. For a moment, think about the sound of a dentist's drill. Did you cringe? If yes, then you have been classically conditioned. Young children find the sound of a dentist's drill amusing; however, one pairing of that sound with pain conditions a quite different response. In your discussion groups, discuss examples of how you have been classically conditioned to different sounds, smells, foods, or such.
II. Operant conditioning focuses on increasing the likelihood of a behavior being repeated through reinforcements and decreasing the likelihood of a behavior being repeated through punishments. Discuss how your professors use reinforcement and punishment in your classes. Which do you feel influences your behavior more, reinforcements or punishments? Why?
III. You do not have to be the person that receives a reinforcement or punishment to influence your behavior. Instead, you can learn vicariously by observing others being reinforced or punished. Discuss a time when you learned something through vicarious learning.