Name
Assessment 1 : Conditioning and Learning Plan
Capella University
FPX1000: Introduction to Psychology
Professor’s Name
March, 2024
Part 1: Scenario
| Instructions | Scenario and Behavior |
| Describe the scenario and the behavior you would like to change. Use the language of behavioral theory and operant conditioning to describe your scenario. | In my daily life, I struggle with maintaining a consistent exercise routine. Currently, I find myself largely sedentary, which has adverse effects on my physical health and overall well-being. Recognizing the importance of regular physical activity, I aim to change this behavior by actively incorporating exercise into my daily or weekly routine. |
Part 2: Plan
| Conditioning Principle | Your Plan | Notes |
| Targeted Response: What is the behavior you want to see occur? | Engage in regular exercise. | Aim to incorporate physical activity into daily routine. |
| Primary Reinforcer | The feeling of accomplishment and improved mood after exercising (Stuntz et al., 2020). | Emphasize the positive effects of exercise on mood and well-being (Annesi, 2020). |
| Secondary Reinforcer | Reward system: Indulging in a favorite treat or activity after completing a week’s worth of exercise (Kirgios et al., 2020). | Reinforce behavior with a secondary reward for consistency (Murnane et al., 2020). |
| Schedules of Reinforcement | Initially, use continuous reinforcement for each instance of completing the exercise. Then transition to a fixed ratio schedule, rewarding after achieving a certain number of weekly exercise sessions (Berardi et al., 2020). | Establish a consistent reinforcement schedule to encourage and maintain behavior change (May & Treadwell, 2020). |
| Shaping | Start with short, manageable exercise sessions and gradually increase duration and intensity (Metcalfe et al., 2020). | Utilize shaping to build momentum and establish a routine. |
| Optional follow-up: In this area, add any additional comments you would like to make about the operant conditioning exercise (not required). | It’s essential to monitor progress and adjust reinforcement strategies as needed to ensure continued motivation and success in maintaining the desired behavior. | Regular evaluation and adaptation of reinforcement techniques are crucial for long-term behavior change (Miller et al., 2021). |
HYPO PSYC 1000 Assessment 1 Conditioning and Learning Plan References
Annesi, J. (2020). Sequential changes advancing from exercise-induced psychological improvements to controlled eating and sustained weight loss: A treatment-focused causal chain model. The Permanente Journal, 24(4). https://doi.org/10.7812/tpp/19.235
Berardi, V., Hovell, M., Hurley, J. C., Phillips, C. B., Bellettiere, J., Todd, M., & Adams, M. A. (2020). Variable magnitude and financial reinforcement is effective at increasing adults’ free-living physical activity. Perspectives on behavior science, 43(3), 515–538. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40614-019-00241-y
Kirgios, E. L., Mandel, G. H., Park, Y., Milkman, K. L., Gromet, D. M., Kay, J. S., & Duckworth, A. L. (2020). Teaching temptation bundling to boost exercise: A field experiment. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 161, 20–35. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.obhdp.2020.09.003
May, B. K., & Treadwell, R. E. (2020). Increasing exercise intensity: Teaching high-intensity interval training to individuals with developmental disabilities using a lottery reinforcement system. Behavior Analysis in Practice. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40617-020-00428-9
Metcalfe, R. S., Atef, H., Mackintosh, K., McNarry, M., Ryde, G., Hill, D. M., & Vollaard, N. B. J. (2020). Time-efficient and computer-guided sprint interval exercise training for improving health in the workplace. BMC Public Health, 20(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-020-8444-z
Miller, A., Reisman, D. S., Billinger, S. A., Dunning, K., Doren, S., Ward, J., Wright, H., Wagner, E., Carl, D., Gerson, M., Awosika, O., Khoury, J., Kissela, B., & Boyne, P. (2021). Moderate-intensity exercise versus high-intensity interval training to recover walking post-stroke. Trials, 22(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13063-021-05419-x
Murnane, E. L., Jiang, X., Kong, A., Park, M., Shi, W., Soohoo, C., Vink, L., Xia, I., Yu, X., Yang-Sammataro, J., Young, G., Zhi, J., Moya, P., & Landay, J. A. (2020). Designing ambient narrative-based interfaces to reflect and motivate physical activity. Proceedings of the 2020 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems. https://doi.org/10.1145/3313831.3376478
Stuntz, C. P., Grosshans, M., Boghosian, R., Brendel, A., & Williamson, M. (Skyler). (2020). Exert more and feel better, not worse?: Examining links among changes in exertion, feelings of accomplishment, and feeling states. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 48, 101657. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychsport.2020.101657
