Unit 6 Learning and behavior

Essay Instructions:

This assignment assesses the following Course Outcome: PS515-3: Apply operant conditioning strategies to behavior modification. Operant conditioning is one of the most commonly used behaviorist techniques. Who has not seen a parent give a child a treat after doing a good job? Have you ever noticed how a well-timed frown or raised eyebrow from a parent can stop a child’s misbehavior in its tracks? Operant conditioning is not only used by parents, but also within organizations. Employers often give raises with the hope of maintaining good employees. It is also used in the classroom. That gold star or “Good work!” from a teacher is often designed to bolster performance. These are all examples of operant conditioning that are used in the real-world! Since operant conditioning is so prevalent, it is important to be able to use it well. Therefore, for this assignment, you will write a 4- to 6-page essay that describes how you would apply operant conditioning to a specific case. Select one of the following behaviors: Teaching a puppy to stop biting Getting a teenager to clean their room Working with a child on the autism spectrum to make eye contact with an adult Working with a client to reduce self-injury behavior Another behavior of your choosing — check first with your instructor. In your essay, be sure to do the following: Briefly recap and describe the target behavior you wish to shape. Break the behavior down into the manageable parts that you will shape (list each part). Evaluate a minimum of four specific reinforcers that could be used to shape behaviors; select the most appropriate one. Describe at least two factors that you need to consider when selecting a reinforcer and why you selected the reinforcer you chose. Using the behavioral parts and the selected reinforcer, describe the process that you will use to shape the target behavior. Discuss how you will balance eventually removing tangible reinforcement while preventing extinction during shaping. Your assignment should be a 4- to 6-page essay, not including the title and reference pages, and should include the following elements: Title page: Provide your name, title of assignment, course and section number, and date. Body: Answer all the questions in complete sentences and paragraphs. Your responses should reflect professional writing standards, using proper tone and language. The writing and writing style should be correct and accurate and reflect knowledge of skills and practice of the psychology profession. Reference page: Sources listed in current APA format. Include a minimum of three scholarly or academic sources to support your responses and conclusions. Use Arial or Times New Roman 12-point font, double-spaced and left aligned. Use standard 1" margins on all sides. Use current APA formatting and citation style.

Essay Sample Content Preview:

Unit 6 Learning and Behavior Student’s Name Institution Course # and Name Professor’s Name Submission Date . Introduction Operant conditioning can be used in animal training since the likelihood of a behavior is controlled by the resultant consequences. When one uses punishments and rewards, an animal can modify behavior based on the reinforcement. This research essay analyzes the target behavior of teaching a puppy to stop biting. It will analyze the different parts that will lead to shaping the behavior. The essay will analyze specific reinforcers that could lead the puppy to stop biting. It will also analyze the factors to consider when selecting a reinforcement to ensure the puppy modifies its behavior. The research will provide the process involved in behavior modification to ensure positive change. Therefore, this essay aims to incorporate learning behavior found in operant conditioning to ensure the puppy stops biting. Target Behavior The target behavior is to teach the puppy not to use the full force of its teeth on people or other dogs since it might lead to injury and pain. It is essential to attain the target behavior to ensure the dog does not get injured or inflict pain on others. Regular biting results in permanent injury, intense trauma, or need for medical care. Research affirms that proper training helps a dog reduce behavioral problems (Castro et al., 2021). When a puppy bites too hard, it causes interruption during playtime and leads to pain. The target behavior involves the puppy stopping biting people and other pets. Ultimately, the puppy modifies its behavior based on the training to improve its quality of living and those of others. Manageable Parts The first step involves motivating the puppy to engage in non-direct types of play that do not involve contact. The puppy receives chewable toys to distract them from biting others and instead channel the energy to the toy. The puppy uses its energy on the toy instead of causing harm and injury to others. The next part involves praising the dog for encouraging them every time they bite on the toy instead of biting someone. Once they successfully refrain from b, they give them treats to reward them for the behavior. If the puppy bites others, it is not rewarded to ensure it learns. Finally, the process repeats itself until the puppy refrains from biting others. Specific Reinforcers Positive reinforcement motivates a behavior to be repeated in the future, which builds on a habit. Research affirms that positive reinforcement effectively manages a given behavior and reduces disruptive ones (Ghafar, 2023). Rewarding the puppy for good behavior encourages them to focus on the desired behavior. Using praises and treats increases extrinsic motivation, ultimately leading to intrinsic motivation not to bite. Research affirms that positive reinforcers are more effective since negative reinforcers accelerate stress levels in dogs (Castro et al., 2021). Positive reinforcers effectively deal with problematic issues while strengthening the pet-owner relationship. Therefore, positive reinforcement will encourage the puppy to stop biting and causing harm to others. Negative reinforcement aims to strengthen a behavior by removing an undesired stimulus. This reinforcement involves every time the puppy stops biting, one avoids shouting at the dog. Negative reinforcement encourages a desired behavior that the dog can repeat in the future. Removing a st...

Updated on October 13, 2024

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