In each of the following situations, a student either is learning or has learned something. (1) Classify each of the situations as involving either classical or instrumental conditioning. (2) Defend your answer by analyzing the situation within the context of the learning paradigm you have chosen

Question

a. When James begins running down the hall toward the cafeteria, his teacher asks him to walk instead. James begins walking, and the teacher gives him a smile. After that, James always makes sure that he walks rather than runs to the cafeteria.
b. Ralph's friend offers him an illegal drug. Ralph takes the drug and finds that it makes him feel great. Ralph begins to buy the drug himself and takes it more and more frequently.
c. Linda is a bright, academically capable girl. Once when she was sick, she failed an important test. Now she is very anxious whenever she takes a test.

Answer 1

Answers to the separate parts of the question are as follows:
a. This is instrumental conditioning (walking is a voluntary response). Walking is reinforced by the teacher's smile and increases in frequency as a result.
b. This is instrumental conditioning (taking a drug is a voluntary response). Taking the drug is reinforced by the feeling it produces, so the behavior increases in frequency.
c. This is classical conditioning