PSY 211 Module Three Activity Template
In the Module Three Activity Guidelines and Rubric, review the Overview and Prompt sections. Then
answer each of the following questions with a minimum of 2 to 5 sentences. Complete this template by
replacing the bracketed text with the relevant information.
● Describe a specific behavior that you learned in response to an external stimulus. Address the
following in your response:
o What external stimulus affected your behavior?
o Were you aware that your behavior was being influenced by the stimulus? If so, how
did you know?
A specific behavior I learned in response to an external stimulus would be checking my phone
immediately when I hear the notification sound, or feel my phone vibrate. Over time each
notification sound became associated with something rewarding, like a text from my friend or a
like on social media. Eventually, just hearing the sound alone triggers a learned behavior, which is
me reaching for my phone without even thinking. I was unaware that my behavior was being
influenced by the stimulus, it’s been something I do without even thinking for longer than I am
able to remember.
● Explain whether the conditioned behavior was good or bad.
o If good, in what ways can you continue to reinforce this behavior?
o If bad, what are some steps you can take to change this behavior?
Checking my phone every time I hear a notification is a bad habit for many reasons, one being
because it breaks focus and reduces productivity. Constantly stopping to check my phone interrupts
concentration which makes it harder to complete tasks efficiently and effectively. Some steps to take to
change this behavior would be silencing notifications, delaying my response by waiting ten seconds to
check every time I hear a notification sound, and creating barriers by keeping my phone out of reach (in
another room, or locked in the car).
● Describe a specific behavior that you changed in response to an external stimulus. Address the
following in your response:
o What external stimulus affected your behavior?
o Were you aware that your behavior was being influenced by the stimulus? If so, how
did you know?
A specific behavior I changed in response to an external stimulus would be smoking cigarettes. I
was a smoker for about 10 years, and I have had asthma my entire life. As I got older it seemed I had
grown out of my asthma for the most part, my symptoms were less severe. When I reached about 22
years old I began noticing I was having trouble breathing regularly, and decided to see my primary care
doctor, where I was informed it would be in my best interest to quit smoking. The conversation I had
with my doctor was the external stimulus that affected my behavior. I was aware that my behavior was
being influenced by this stimulus because if it wasn’t for that conversation I most likely would still be a
smoker to this day.
1
In the Module Three Activity Guidelines and Rubric, review the Overview and Prompt sections. Then
answer each of the following questions with a minimum of 2 to 5 sentences. Complete this template by
replacing the bracketed text with the relevant information.
● Describe a specific behavior that you learned in response to an external stimulus. Address the
following in your response:
o What external stimulus affected your behavior?
o Were you aware that your behavior was being influenced by the stimulus? If so, how
did you know?
A specific behavior I learned in response to an external stimulus would be checking my phone
immediately when I hear the notification sound, or feel my phone vibrate. Over time each
notification sound became associated with something rewarding, like a text from my friend or a
like on social media. Eventually, just hearing the sound alone triggers a learned behavior, which is
me reaching for my phone without even thinking. I was unaware that my behavior was being
influenced by the stimulus, it’s been something I do without even thinking for longer than I am
able to remember.
● Explain whether the conditioned behavior was good or bad.
o If good, in what ways can you continue to reinforce this behavior?
o If bad, what are some steps you can take to change this behavior?
Checking my phone every time I hear a notification is a bad habit for many reasons, one being
because it breaks focus and reduces productivity. Constantly stopping to check my phone interrupts
concentration which makes it harder to complete tasks efficiently and effectively. Some steps to take to
change this behavior would be silencing notifications, delaying my response by waiting ten seconds to
check every time I hear a notification sound, and creating barriers by keeping my phone out of reach (in
another room, or locked in the car).
● Describe a specific behavior that you changed in response to an external stimulus. Address the
following in your response:
o What external stimulus affected your behavior?
o Were you aware that your behavior was being influenced by the stimulus? If so, how
did you know?
A specific behavior I changed in response to an external stimulus would be smoking cigarettes. I
was a smoker for about 10 years, and I have had asthma my entire life. As I got older it seemed I had
grown out of my asthma for the most part, my symptoms were less severe. When I reached about 22
years old I began noticing I was having trouble breathing regularly, and decided to see my primary care
doctor, where I was informed it would be in my best interest to quit smoking. The conversation I had
with my doctor was the external stimulus that affected my behavior. I was aware that my behavior was
being influenced by this stimulus because if it wasn’t for that conversation I most likely would still be a
smoker to this day.
1
