Some Practice With Classical and Operant Conditioning Terms

Name _____________________________

Class Period ______

Classical Conditioning Examples: (For each of the scenarios described below, identify the UCS,
the CS, the UCR, and the CR.)

1) A cancer patient is injected with a drug every two weeks by a visiting nurse to her home. The
drug causes nausea and dizziness. This patient now gets nauseated just hearing the engine
noise of her nurse’s car when she pulls into the driveway.

UCS = CS = UCR = CR =

2) You withdraw money from your bank machine, and when you reach for the money you get
shocked when you touch a strip of metal on the machine. You are now reluctant to go the
machine to get money and instead do your banking inside.

UCS = CS = UCR = CR =

3) Your cat runs to the kitchen whenever he hears the electric can opener because you have fed
him in the past after opening a can of cat food with this opener. He now does this even though
you are opening a can of corn for yourself and not opening a can of food for him.

UCS = CS = UCR = CR =

4) You always turn on the light in your bedroom before you feed your gold fish Now, whenever
you turn on the light in your room, your fish comes to the top of the tank in anticipation of
more food.

UCS = CS = UCR = CR =

5) A four year old is terrified by a thunderstorm while watching a cartoon. Now, she becomes
scared every time this cartoon appears on television.

UCS = CS = UCR = CR =

6) You have a mild stomach virus, but despite this, you eat a chicken sandwich from a local fast
food restaurant that makes you sick. You now become nauseated every time that you drive by
this restaurant.

UCS = CS = UCR = CR =
Operant Conditioning Examples: (For each of the following scenarios, determine if positive
reinforcement, negative reinforcement, or punishment is being described.)

1) A young child is rewarded with a piece of candy every time that he buckles his seat belt.

2) A kindergarten student is allowed to leave “time out” early for behaving properly.

3) A teenager is grounded for two weeks for coming home after his curfew.

4) A high school student has her cell phone taken away by her mother for having poor grades.

5) A Mom watching her son’s football game puts on a heavy coat because it is cold and raining.

6) A young man decides to go to the dentist because he has a bad toothache.

7) A middle school teacher awards bonus points to students who turn in a project early.

8) Your dog gets a treat for learning a new trick.

9) An attorney does a five mile run after work to relieve some job stress.

10) This same man also runs because he is losing weight and likes his improved appearance.

11) A second grader is scolded in front of her class for talking while the teacher is talking.

12) A young wife nags her husband for a new dress until he gives in and buys one for her.

13) A soccer coach makes his players do 20 pushups for some mistakes that they made in
practice.

14) A twelve year old is given a weekly allowance for doing several household chores.

15) A prisoner is given a reduced jail sentence for “good behavior.”

16) You check the slot in a vending machine because there is often a quarter in the slot.

17) A high student is taken out to eat by her parents for being chosen as “Student of the
Month.”

18) An audience gives a round of applause at the end of a play for the cast of actors.

19) A middle aged man is given a speeding ticket for going over the speed limit.

20) A wife gives her husband a kiss for doing the dishes.

ANSWER KEY:
Classical Conditioning Examples:

1. UCS = the drug CS = engine noise of the car UCR = nausea from the drug CR = her
reaction to the engine noise from the car

2. UCS = the shock CS = the bank machine UCR = getting shocked CR = avoiding the
use of the bank machine

3. UCS = the food CS = the sound of the can opener UCR = response to the food CR = the
cat’s response to the sound of the can opener

4. UCS = the food CS = the light in the bedroom UCR = response to the food CR = the
response by the gold fish to the light.

5. UCS = the storm CS = the cartoon UCR = response to the storm CR = the child
being afraid when seeing the cartoon

6. UCS = the virus CS = the chicken sandwich UCR = reaction to the virus CR = getting
nauseated when driving by the restaurant

Operant Conditioning Examples:

1. Positive Reinforcement 2. Negative Reinforcement

3. Punishment 4. Punishment

5. Negative Reinforcement 6. Negative Reinforcement

7. Positive Reinforcement 8. Positive Reinforcement

9. Negative Reinforcement 10. Positive Reinforcement

11. Punishment 12. Negative Reinforcement

13. Punishment 14. Positive Reinforcement

15. Negative Reinforcement 16. Positive Reinforcement

17. Positive Reinforcement 18. Positive Reinforcement

19. Punishment 20. Positive Reinforcement