Classical Conditioning in The Cases of Edward, Shelby, and Stacey

Question 1

Classical conditioning involves critical focus on a learning process based on a sustained focus on key underlying activity. It involves automatic responses based on underlying action that an individual is able to associate it to another crucial resultant issue. Therefore when considering this case Edward associates soccer practice with constant yelling of his soccer coach where he begins to shake. The action in this case can be related to a situation where an individual is taught certain things in their lives. The classical procedure highlights that a neutral stimulus is paired with unconditional stimulus. Therefore based on the scenario that is developed in this case soccer practice is the conditional stimulus (CS) while yelling of the coach is the unconditional stimulus (UCS) unconditional response (UCR) is the resultant action which is shaking (Gormezano et.al., 2014).

Edward has only the memory of his coach in his mind and thinks that all other men are same to his soccer coach, which creates unconditional response of fear despite having never interacted with them. Edward’s mind is already developed in a much-skewed manner towards his coach, which creates a very difficult environment regarding his perception of other men. This is a classical conditioning considering the fact there is an automatic response of fear towards his coach and other men as well due to a crucial issue that he is able to associate it with his soccer coach.

Eliminating Edward’s fear requires significant focus on his behavioral focus under which it will be very significant to have an understanding on the key issue that triggers a response. Counterconditioning process in this case aims at creating a very different approach under which his behavior can be effectively evaluated to improve his focus and differentiate his overall understanding on individual behavior (Ormrod, 2016).

Question 2

The behaviorist approach takes into consideration the social environment, which plays a key role in shaping an individual wellbeing. A key issue that is facing Shelby is lack of self-confidence and belief that makes her afraid to socialize with others for fear of being rejected by her peers. Therefore, a key behavior that I would shape would be reserved behavior. There is need to ensure that she has free and outgoing behavior. A reinforce that can be used in this case would be to adapt behavioral change in order to achieve her dream. Being helped to achieve her dream in this case is a reinforce which will ensure that she puts in a lot of effort to change her behavior in order to be achieve her dreams which is an important part of human development (Gormezano et.al., 2014).

Shaping her behavior will require strategic focus under which it will be possible to ensure that she is able to adopt positive behavior where she will be able to interact with others. Behavior is learned and therefore it will require constant gradual interaction with her closest friends who will play a key role in improving her interaction and eventually adopt more interactive behavior.

Question 3

Stacey has adopted aggressive behavior as defense mechanisms against her classmates who always laugh at her for about her lack of strength and coordination. She was able to realize that she can as well dominate by adopting aggressive personality despite its occurrence as an accident. The behaviorism consideration in this case focuses on the underlying concept that behavior is shaped by social interaction and thus in this case it is her interaction with classmates that lead to the development of this new aggressive behavior, which is aimed at achieving a specific end. Spending more time in principles office is more peaceful and less tormenting than in class and tis explains her preference to be in principles office (Ormrod, 2016).