Chapter 7 Questions

1. Reflect on your own learning. What examples of learning qualified as such according to the behaviorist perspective?]

I think the majority of my learning qualified as such according to the behaviorist perspective. Learning is a permanent change in knowledge or behavior due to experience. Everything from wanting to perform well to receive a good grade to the proper ways to act in class were taught by behaviorism. Behaviorism is a change in behavior due to an experience (reinforcement and punishment). A reinforcement is an increase of a desired behavior, an example of this would be studying for a test will make you perform better and receive a good grade. A punishment is a decrease of undesired behaviors, and example of this is being unprepared for class will make the teacher call your parents. Both behaviors are being shaped by their outcomes and the thoughts and experiences related to both.

     2. What is the primary difference between classical and operant conditioning? How might the difference affect learning?

Classical conditioning in an involuntary or automatic behavior (Pavlov's dog). If you normally don't perform well in math, starting a new topic might make you anxious. This behavior is not thought about it is a natural consequence to previous experiences. Operant conditioning uses consequences, rewards and punishments after the behavior. An example of operant conditioning is being rewarded by completing all assignments by having your lowest grade dropped. 

     3. What is the difference between positive reinforcement and negative reinforcement? 

Positive reinforcement is presenting a motivating or reinforcing stimulus after a desired behavior. This then makes the desired behavior more likely to happen in the future. A negative reinforcement is when a certain stimulus is removed after a behavior. This increases future behavior because of removing or avoiding a negative consequence, it is increasing a behavior not decreasing so it is different than a punishment. 

      4.  What is the difference between negative reinforcement and punishment? What are the potential unintended consequences of mixing these up?

A punishment is a decrease of an undesired behavior. While A negative reinforcement is when a certain stimulus is removed after a behavior. This increases future behavior because of removing or avoiding a negative consequence, it is increasing a behavior not decreasing so it is different than a punishment. A negative reinforcement is different than a punishment because it is increasing a behavior not decreasing.