An external stimulus.
Describe a specific behavior that you learned in response to an external stimulus. Address the following in your response:
What external stimulus affected your behavior?
Were you aware that your behavior was being influenced by the stimulus? If so, how did you know?
Explain whether the conditioned behavior was positive or negative.
If positive, in what ways can you continue to reinforce this behavior?
If negative, what are some steps you can take to change this behavior?
Describe a specific behavior that you changed in response to an external stimulus. Address the following in your response:
What external stimulus affected your behavior?
Were you aware that your behavior was being influenced by the stimulus? If so, how did you know?
Explain whether the change in behavior was positive or negative.
If positive, in what ways can you continue to reinforce this behavior?
If negative, and if it is something that you would like to change again, what are some steps you can take to change this behavior?
Explain why one of the behaviors described above is an example of classical conditioning (Watson), operant conditioning (Skinner), or neither of these. Address the following in your response:
If one of the above types of conditioning applies to your example, which specific features helped you to identify it?
Explain why this type of conditioning is most effective in learning or changing this behavior.
If neither type of conditioning applies to the behavior, why is this the case? Explain your response in terms of specific conditioning features (e.g., stimulus, response, association) or inherent aspects of the behavior itself.
An external stimulus
External stimuli are changes to conditions outside of the body, or in general, information from outside the body that our senses detect. For example, our bodies respond to changes in light and temperature and to sources of danger. We can detect hot or cold environment using our sense of temperature. When the temperature is too hot, sweating (perspiration) starts in our bodies. Similarly in a cold environment, the small hairs stand on our body. This phenomenon is known as piloerection. Pain is the stimulus that can cause a major response from the body. Pain can also change the behavior of the organism.
