Behavior Modification Project
Purpose:
To help understand how conditioning (classical and operant) and the principles of conditioning are around us in the world. These principles of conditioning help to shape our behaviors on a daily basis. This will encourage students to think about the theories on a deeper level.
Assignment:
Identify a behavior that you have acquired through classical conditioning. Discuss the behavior and how you acquired the behavior through classical conditioning. Then identify a behavior in yourself that you would like to change, it can be the same behavior that you acquired through classical conditioning or it can be a different behavior. It can be something simple like not putting your dishes in the sink or something more complex like quitting smoking. Then using the theory of operant conditioning write a detailed plan of how you will attempt to alter this behavior. Be sure to include the correct terminology like conditioned stimulus, neutral stimulus, reinforcement, punishment. Be sure to include a schedule of reinforcement and include how long you think it might take to change this behavior. The more details that you can provide, the better!!
Format:
Your essay must be at least 1500 words written in paragraph format and include:
- Clearly state the behavior you acquired through classical conditioning
- clearly state the behavior you wish to change
- clearly state how you are going to change the behavior with operant conditioning
- clearly use all aspects of operant conditioning including correct terminology
- clearly state how you are going to measure progress
- clearly state how long you expect it to take before change occurs- schedule of reinforcement
- you must use correct terminology (ie. conditioned stimulus, neutral stimulus, reinforcement, punishment)
- Must be written in paper format, not simply answering these questions, if you simply number and answer the questions you will earn a “0”
APA Format:
Your paper should follow the following APA format with the following headings:
Introduction- includesidentifying the behavior you wish to change & a summary of both classical and operant conditioning
Classical Conditioning- details all aspects of classical conditioning & discuss a behavior that you have acquired through classical conditioning (can be the same behavior you plan to change or different)
Operant Conditioning-details operant conditioning and discusses a behavior you have acquired or plan to change using operant conditioning.
Discussion- details items 5 & 6 and discusses obstacles to
success
Worksheet
This assignment is due on:____________________________
Behavior to change:_______________________________________________________________________________
How can I change the behavior with classical conditioning?__________________________
NS:
UCS:
UCR:
CS:
CR
How can I change the behavior with operant conditioning?______________________
Pos. Reinforcement:
Neg. Reinforcement:
Pos. Punishment:
Neg. Punishment:
