Question

In class, there was a discussion of body language, the example of folding one's arms across the chest/midsection. The discussion asked was this classical or operant conditioning? The correct answer was:

a) Classical conditioning
b) Operant conditioning
c) Observational learning
d) Extinction

Answer 1

Folding one's arms as described in the question is an example of classical conditioning, which involves associating a neutral stimulus with a reflexive response. This differs from operant conditioning, where a voluntary behavior is associated with consequences like rewards or punishments.

The correct choice is option a) Classical conditioning.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question refers to the concept of body language and asks whether folding one's arms across the chest/midsection is an example of classical conditioning, operant conditioning, observational learning, or extinction. The answer is classical conditioning, which is a form of associative learning where an organism learns to connect a previously neutral stimulus with a reflexive response. This is different from operant conditioning, where an organism learns to associate a voluntary behavior with its consequences, which can be rewards or punishments.

For example, in Pavlov's dog experiments, dogs learned to salivate at the sound of a bell because the bell was repeatedly paired with the presentation of food, a reflexive response to a conditioned stimulus. On the other hand, operant conditioning might involve training a pet to perform a trick by providing a treat after the desired behavior, thereby reinforcing the behavior.

Therefore, when a student learns that studying improves grades on an AP test, it's an example of operant conditioning because the student associates the behavior of studying with the positive consequence of a better grade.

The correct choice is option a) Classical conditioning.