D566-Psychology of Learning
Task 1: Psychology of Learning
Theories
Shelysa Powell
ID# 012819283
January 18, 2026
A. Describe a learned behavior that is an example of classical
conditioning, including how classical conditioning is
demonstrated in your example.
Learned Behavior: Fear of going to the dentist
• Unconditioned Stimulus (UCS): Painful dental procedure-Root
Canal
• Unconditioned Response (UCR): Pain and anxiety
• Neutral Stimulus (NS): The dentist’s office
• Conditioned Stimulus (CS): The dentist’s office after a root canal.
• Conditioned Response (CR): Anxiety or fear when visiting the
dentist or hearing dental tools, even before any pain occurs
This is an example of classical conditioning, demonstrating how a neutral
stimulus can become associated with fear (Schunk, 2019).
B. Describe a learned behavior that is an example of operant
conditioning as it would be experienced, including how operant
conditioning is demonstrated in your example.
Learned Behavior: Being grounded for missing curfew
• Behavior: Comes home late, misses curfew
• Consequence: Grounded for two weeks
• Future behavior: Comes home by curfew
Task 1: Psychology of Learning
Theories
Shelysa Powell
ID# 012819283
January 18, 2026
A. Describe a learned behavior that is an example of classical
conditioning, including how classical conditioning is
demonstrated in your example.
Learned Behavior: Fear of going to the dentist
• Unconditioned Stimulus (UCS): Painful dental procedure-Root
Canal
• Unconditioned Response (UCR): Pain and anxiety
• Neutral Stimulus (NS): The dentist’s office
• Conditioned Stimulus (CS): The dentist’s office after a root canal.
• Conditioned Response (CR): Anxiety or fear when visiting the
dentist or hearing dental tools, even before any pain occurs
This is an example of classical conditioning, demonstrating how a neutral
stimulus can become associated with fear (Schunk, 2019).
B. Describe a learned behavior that is an example of operant
conditioning as it would be experienced, including how operant
conditioning is demonstrated in your example.
Learned Behavior: Being grounded for missing curfew
• Behavior: Comes home late, misses curfew
• Consequence: Grounded for two weeks
• Future behavior: Comes home by curfew
