Appropriate human — my friend, Dave
Appropriate behavior for classical conditioning — eye blink to a tinkling
sound
UCS — puff of air on the eyelid
UCR — eye blink
CS — tinkling sound
CR — eye blink
Type of Classical Conditioning — trace conditioning
I will classically condition Dave to blink his eyes to a tinkling sound
by following this procedure:
I will strike a water-filled glass with a metal iced tea spoon (originally
a neutral stimulus in that it does not trigger the eye blink response,
which I hope will become a CS for Dave blinking his eyes). Immediately
after striking the glass with the spoon (this is what makes it trace conditioning),
lightly blow through a straw aimed at Dave's eyelid. Initially, Dave
will blink because of the puff of air striking his eyelid (the UCS, which
is an involuntary autonomic response that naturally occurs whenever air
hits the eyelids).
After about 10 to 15 pairings of the puff-of-air and clinking-of-the-spoon-hitting-the-glass
stimuli, separated by about 1 minute intervals, I will offer Dave something
to drink (he can have whatever he wants, but I will take iced tea).
I will add sugar to my iced tea, and begin to vigorously stir my tea. I
will watch to see if the tinkling sound produced by the metal spoon rapidly
striking the glass as I stir causes Dave to (probably, rapidly) blink.
If he does, I will know that the classical conditioning has occurred.
The tinkling sound (CS) has become capable of producing blinking (CR) as
a result of learning. If not, I will continue with several more pairings
of the CS and UCS and then test again.
Select, and identify, an appropriate human being as your learner.
Select, and identify, an appropriate behavior or emotional response
for classical conditioning.
Identify:
the Unconditioned Stimulus you are using
the Unconditioned Response you are using
the Conditioned Stimulus you are using
the Conditioned Response you are using
the type of Classical Conditioning you are attempting to employ
Describe, in detail, the procedure you would follow to condition the person to respond as you wish him/her to respond.