Psychology of Learning Summarize a A-Level Coursework

The U.S. would be the attractive woman, minimally dressed, as well as the snake which sometime represents male reproductive prowess. The UR would be a general feeling of sexual excitement targeted toward men but could be experienced by either gender. The brand of vodka is the CS while the intended CR is a feeling of sexual excitement when viewing the brand.

Figure 1 - Smirnoff Ad (Crooked Brains, 2012)

3.How could stimulus control be used in the following behavior-modification programs? Be sure to describe the specific procedures that must be implemented in order for the treatment to work.

1. To treat drug abuse

This one is difficult because drug abuse has intrinsic conditioning already associated with it. After a drug user takes a drug, the sense of euphoria often becomes associated with the drug itself. Therefore, when a user simply sees the drug they could experience some euphoria. However, if a the CS could somehow be associated with the ill effects of drug use, such as vomiting, then maybe the CR could change.

2. To reduce arguing with a significant other

A spouse could possibly use a rubber band and snap their wrists while arguing. This could act to limit arguing for the avoidance of the negative CS.

3. To treat bulimia

This one is also difficult because vomiting is a rather negative response to eating (one would think). Therefore something that was perceived even more negative than vomiting itself would have to be used as a CS.

4. To reduce time spent watching TV

The tv viewer could put their feet in ice cold water until it was painful.Eventually the U.S. (ice cold water) would equate the act of watching television to a painful experience (CR).

5. To reduce stress

An individual could associate an object, such as a stress ball for example, with happy experiences. Then in times of stress the object could be used to generate the learned response of pleasure and act to reduce the effects of stress.

Regarding the five scenarios listed above, determining which one would be the most successful is fairly straightforward. You can easily eliminate drug use first; followed by bulimia. These two conditions represent severe forms of psychological conditions not easily treated by behavioral remedies. The next two eliminations would probably be arguing and watching TV. Although these two issues might potentially be suitable for behavioral therapy, reducing stress is more of a vague emotion that could be relatively easily treated with behavioral methods. If you were feeling stressed, for example, a conditioned response of imagine a more serene environment could quickly reduce the stress levels that an individual was feeling.

Works Cited

Crooked Brains. (2012, December 29). 20 Creative Smirnoff Advertisments. Retrieved from Crooked Brains: http://www.crookedbrains.net/2007/12/creative-ads-by-smirnoff.html

Experiment Resouirces. (N.d.). Classical Conditioning. Retrieved from Experiment Resources: http://www.experiment-resources.com/classical-conditioning.html

Prize, N. (2001, May 15). Pavlov's Dog. Retrieved from Nobel Prize: http://www.nobelprize.org/educational/medicine/pavlov/readmore.html.....