Blog Post 8

Classical conditioning is a type of learning in which one learns to link two or more stimuli and anticipate events. For example, if you have a cat and feed the cat soft cat food out of a can the cat soon learns that every time they hear a can opener or the seal of a can broken, they are going to get fed. The cat links the sound of the can opening to being fed. Therefore, when the cat hears the can opening, he or she runs to the kitchen and begins to meow and create a fuss. Operant conditioning is a type of learning in which behavior is strengthened if followed by a reinforcer or diminished if followed by a punisher. For example, while teaching a dog to sit, you give him the command and help him or her to sit. After the dog sits, you reward him with praise, a favorite toy, or a treat. After several repetitions of this process, the dog will realize that every time you say the command and he responds by sitting, he will get a reward; therefore he continues the behavior. Classical conditioning forms associations between stimuli and involves respondent behavior (actions that are automatic responses to a stimulus), while operant conditioning teaches an action by using reinforcement. Both of these types of learning and conditioning greatly apply to my life because I train (teach) equines, canines, and felines. I find it very interesting that I use these concepts everyday when I train animals. I feel that I can relate and understand this chapter more than any of the other chapters we have read so far because of my strong personal connection to it.

Positive reinforcements strengthen a response by presenting a typically pleasurable stimulus after a response. Negative reinforcements strengthens a response by reducing or removing something undesirable or unpleasant. Punishment is a consequence that decreases the behavior that it follows.

Positive Reinforcement: I have always received good grades. I believe the main reason why I receive good grades is because when my parents would get my report card and see excellent grades on it, they would become extremely happy. I would get hugs and Mom and Dad would tell me how proud of me they were. It made me feel extremely good. Sometimes they would even buy me something that I really wanted, just because I got good grades on a report card. Therefore, I always work hard on my schoolwork to achieve that moment, when my parents get to see what my work has done.

Negative Reinforcement: This event did not happen to me, but to my dog. He got into a fight with a porcupine and afterwards, his face was full of quills. It was quite painful for him. My dad tried to pull them out. Our dog was fidgeting a lot for the first few quills, but as my dad kept pulling them out, he realized that after the quill was pulled out, the pain wasn't nearly as bad. Therefore, our dog stood very still the rest of the time. After that day, if anything was physically hurting him, he would always go to Dad and let Dad help him.

Punishment: A few years ago I was training a miniature stallion. His training was going very well, until I tried to separate him from "his mare." As I was leading him away, he bit me. I let go of him in shock. He then turned around and kicked me and ran back to "his mare." After that his biting and kicking increased in severity. Everyone was afraid of him. One day, after he was gelded, I was sick and tired of his severe behavior. I took him out of the field and simply walked him around in a circle. I watched his muzzle very closely and every time he tried to bite me or even held his ears back I whacked him across the nose with the end of the lead rope because biting is a VERY VERY UNACCEPTABLE behavior. Let me tell you, he stopped biting and kicking real fast. He has not bitten or kicked anyone since then and is now an excellent miniature pony, who has won all blue ribbons in his performance classes!

I thought that everything in this chapter was interesting! I especially liked learning more about operant conditioning because I use it all the time, every day when I train animals. I also liked learning the different ways operant conditioning can be used. I can use this information to more effectively teach others during Food for America, Safety Day, and the other presentations that I put on throughout the year. I can also subconsciously use this information while trying to recruit people to participate in an activity and "training" boyfriends (JUST KIDDING!).