WGU D566 Psychology of Learning – Task 1 2026 update

Classical Conditioning One of the most popular psychology experiments is that of Ivan Pavlov’s Dog Experiment. Classical Conditioning begins with an unconditioned stimulus, an unconditioned response, and a neutral stimulus. A conditioned stimulus occurs when a neutral stimulus repeatedly paired with the unconditioned stimulus. After this has happened the new conditioned stimulus by itself will produce a conditioned response. (WGU, 2020a) When my ex-husband deployed during our first year of marriage, I set a specific sound notification (neutral stimulus) for when I received either a text or an email from him (the unconditioned stimulus). At first, the sound notification did not cause happiness or excitement (the unconditioned response) but after several times where the sound notification happened just before the texts and emails my brain linked the two together and I would feel giddy just from the notifications. This shows classical conditioning because the sound notification became a conditioned stimulus associated with an automatic response, or conditioned response, of happiness and excitement through repeated texts or emails. Operant Conditioning According to WGU (2020b), “Operant conditioning is often used to shape behavior. When someone does something good, we reinforce it by giving them something positive, like praise or a reward. On the other hand, if they do something we do not want, we assign a punishment.” An example of operant conditioning would be when I started going to work out. I created a specific playlist that I would only listen to while working out. After a couple of weeks, I was looking forward to the gym. By rewarding myself with something enjoyable it ensured that I would continue going to the gym.