Behavior Modification

Which form of conditioning is used most for behavior modification? Why does this form work better?

The form of conditioning frequently used for behavior modification is operant conditioning. This form works because it revolves around rewards for desired behavior and punishment for undesired behavior.  Positive reinforcement encourages one to repeat the desired behavior while punishment discourages one from repeating the undesired behavior (Chance, (2022).

Why would Classical Conditioning help someone in their daily life functioning?

Classical conditioning plays a critical role in producing emotional responses, hunger, addiction, advertising, and psychotherapy. In the case of addiction, the classically conditioned cues related to addiction (the people, smells, sights, and locations) serve as conditional stimuli (Jasinska, Stein, Kaiser, Naumer, & Yalachkov, 2014). These cues lose their power to trigger craving if the person stops addictive behavior, even with repetitive cue exposure. Repeated pairing between cues related to substance use and the physiological effects generated by the substance result in the conditioned response. As a result, a conditioned craving is elicited in the presence of the cues (Khoo, 2019).  This form helps us comprehend how drug addiction or trauma works.

Which form of conditioning would you most likely see in a classroom setting?

Operant conditioning is the most theory applied in the classroom to get a desired behavior. It involves using reinforcements and punishments to encourage desired behavior or deter unwanted behavior (Blackman, 2017). For example, a teacher can use stickers, and smiley faces to teach students good behavior and useful skills. By giving stickers to students who behave exemplary or who do satisfying work, the teacher encourages them to repeat such behavior.  For instance, the teacher can administer praise or reward to students who finish and submit assignments on time. This not only reinforces the desired behavior but encourages others to start completing their assignments on time. Operant conditioning can be used to discourage undesired behavior in the classroom such as disruptive talking and distracting classmate. Here, the teacher can use negative reinforcements to minimize the occurrence of the behavior. Negative reinforcements include detention and moving the distracting student away from the classmate.

References

Blackman, D. E. (2017). Operant Conditioning: An Experimental Analysis of Behaviour. Milton: Routledge

Chance, P.  (2022). Learning and behavior: Active learning edition. S.l.: CENGAGE LEARNING.

Jasinska, A. J., Stein, E. A., Kaiser, J., Naumer, M. J., and Yalachkov, Y. (2014). Factors modulating neural reactivity to drug cues in addiction: a survey of human neuroimaging studies. Neuroscience Biological Review, 38:1–16. doi: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2013.10.013

Khoo, S. (2019). From Pavlov’s Dog to Rats Using Drugs. Frontier Young Minds7:58. doi: 10.3389/frym.2019.00058