Classical conditioning

1. Chapter 12 “Adulthood” section “Body and Mind” covers the mental and physical changes that people experiment as they grow older from age of 25-65 at this stage of development. There are losses and gains, since of course the effects of physical and mental growth “is not the same at 65 as they were at 25,” (Berger, 437). For example, a gain would be the increase of knowledge and intelligence that one would gain over the years of experiencing risks, opportunities, and learning new things that…

Learned Optimism (Martin Seligman) Martin Seligman is a common reference books Punset and José Antonio Marina. Eminent psychologist, has focused his career not in the study of those diseases or conditions that destroy the minds of many individuals, but in the study of the mind of those who, despite having a healthy mental state, can improve their lives, pursue a greater happiness, better understanding of themselves or feel fully realized. It all started when after finishing his studies, he…

Working in Teams Name Institution Working in Teams Teamwork plays an imperative role in fostering growth and productivity in an organization. A team consists of people who work together towards a shared goal. Normally, teams ensure that cooperation is enhanced and any king of competition that seeks to divide the employees is minimized. Effective teams are defined by the level of satisfaction on the members, the productivity in an organization, and the commitment of the members to remain…

The Positive Behavior Intervention System applies the use of operant conditioning, a term established by B.F. Skinner. Operant conditioning, “is the study of reversible behaviors maintained by reinforcement schedules” (Staddon & Cerutti, 2002). In his study, Skinner tested hungry rats with a reinforcer of food. During the study he found that the rats learned that if they pressed on the lever, they would receive food (positive reinforce) (Staddon & Cerutti, 2002). On the contrary, if they did not…

Ambiguous figures consist of two perceivable images in one image. For example, you may see a woman looking into a vanity or a skull. For ambiguous figures, what a viewer perceives depends on the context and the features presented, which includes top-down and bottom-up processes (Treisman & Gelade, 1980; Kersten et. al, 2004). Perception of such ambiguous figures can be affected through priming, where exposure to one stimulus leads to a response to another stimulus (Ballets & Dale, 2007; Bugelski…

What is Mindfulness? In recent years, the use of mindful practices has become more prevalent in society. Mindfulness has been used in different types of programs to treat stress, improve psychological well-being as well as physical, and in some cases, improve overall quality of life. The root of mindful practices stems from Buddhist beliefs, but today, mindfulness has worked into society’s everyday use. Mindfulness encompasses a broad spectrum of ideas and practices, all with the foundation of…

After analyzing the data collected over the last two weeks it showed that the intervention being implemented was working. The intervention was effective in decreasing my behavior (consumption of high carbohydrate foods) by utilizing my healthier substitute of fruits, vegetables and salads. The first couple of days of the intervention I felt sluggish and tired. However, the daily exercise did contribute to the effectiveness of the intervention. Additionally, daily exercise gave me more energy and…

rather they are formed based on a person’s history of conditioning. Through my studies I have found that behaviors that bring about positive consequences have a greater likelihood of being repeated than behaviors that bring about negative consequences. This is known as operant conditioning, the shaping of behaviors by providing rewards to reinforce desired behaviors and providing punishment for undesired behaviors. This system of operant conditioning works on voluntary behaviors and there has…

Neuroplasticity is the brain’s ability to heal, grow new connections and reorganize in order to adapt to an environment. In early life, environmental factors are crucial to brain development because the brain is acutely sensitive to the world around it. Rosenzweig’s research supports that the habitat in which a rat lives in affects its neuroplasticity. In Spitz’s research, it is evident that a mother's presence in a child’s life is crucial to brain development. Harlow’s research may suggest that…

In this laboratory exercise of a bird pecking a button, the bird has a habit of pecking the button more times because it is conscious of the fact that every time it pecks, food is supplied. The bird makes certain that it pecks the button since doing so results to the delivery of food. To sustain the availability of food, the bird has to continuously peck the button. The graphic representation of this experiment is constant, showing that the reinforcer in this case, is providing the delivery of…