Classical and Operant

Conditioning Handout
Answers
#1.

 Q: 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 jumps back automatically
after hearing the flush, before the water temperature changes.
#1.

 Q: 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 jumps back automatically
after hearing the flush, before the water temperature changes.
 A: Classical conditioning, association of 2 stimuli: flush + hot water; involuntary behavior
NS  flush
UCS  hot water
UCR  jumping back to the hot water
CS  flush
CR  jumping back to the flush
#2.

 Q: 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.
#2.

 Q: 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.
 A: Operant conditioning: associating behavior & consequence, voluntary behavior
 Positive Reinforcement
 Positive (giving) = credit card
 Reinforcement (to increase behavior) = good grades
#3.

 Q: Your car has a red, flashing light that blinks annoyingly if you start the car without
buckling your seatbelt. You become less likely to start your car without buckling your
seatbelt.
#3.

 Q: Your car has a red, flashing light that blinks annoyingly if you start the car without
buckling your seatbelt. You become less likely to start your car without buckling your
seatbelt.
 (What is the question really asking? More likely to put on seatbelt before starting your
car.)
 A: Operant conditioning: associating behavior & consequence, voluntary behavior
 Negative Reinforcement
 Negative (taking away) = annoying light to
 Reinforcement (increase the behavior) = of buckling your seatbelt
#4.

 Q: 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.
#4.

 Q: 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.
 A: Classical conditioning, association of 2 stimuli: new food + flu; involuntary behavior
NS  new food
UCS  the flu
UCR  feeling sick to flu
CS  new food
CR  feeling sick to new food
#5.

 Q: 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.
#5.

 Q: 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.
 A: Classical conditioning, association of 2 stimuli: small room + drug; involuntary
behavior
NS  small room
UCS  the drug
UCR  increased heart rate to drug
CS  the small room
CR  increased heart rate to small room
#6.

 Q: A lion in a circus learns to stand up on a chair and jump through a hoop to receive a
food treat.
#6.

 Q: A lion in a circus learns to stand up on a chair and jump through a hoop to receive a
food treat.
 A: Operant conditioning: associating behavior & consequence, voluntary behavior
 Positive Reinforcement
 Positive (giving) = food treat to
 Reinforcement (increase the behavior) = of jumping through a hoop
#7.

 Q: 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.
#7.

 Q: 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.
 A: Operant conditioning: associating behavior & consequence, voluntary behavior
 Negative Reinforcement
 Negative (taking away) = final exam to
 Reinforcement (increase the behavior) = of attendance
#8.

 Q: 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.
#8.

 Q: 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.
 A: Operant conditioning: associating behavior & consequence, voluntary behavior
 Positive Reinforcement
 Positive (giving) = quarter to
 Reinforcement (increase the behavior) = of checking phones
#9.

 Q: 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.
#9.

 Q: Your hands are cold, so you put gloves on. In the future, you are more likely to put
gloves on when it’s cold.
 A: Operant conditioning: associating behavior & consequence, voluntary behavior
 Positive Reinforcement or Negative Reinforcement; either depending on whether you add
warmth or take away cold:
 Positive (giving) = warmth to
 Negative (taking away) = cold to
 Reinforcement (increase the behavior) = of putting on gloves
#10.

 Q: 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 a white
rat.
#10.

 Q: 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 a white
rat.
 A: Classical conditioning, association of 2 stimuli: rat+ loud noise; involuntary behavior
NS  white rat
UCS  loud noise
UCR  startled to loud noise
CS  white rat
CR  startled to white rat