Question

Beth, a new student at Skinner High School, is determined to make friends. When she attends the first psychology club meeting, she finds herself in the room with twenty-five strangers who seem to know each other well. She plans to attend a few more meetings before deciding whether she will join the psychology club. Demonstrate how operant conditioning could HINDER Beth’s quest for friendship. Definitions will not score points.

Answer 1

Operant conditioning is when a positive/neg stimulus is done after something happens. Classical conditioning is the same thing, except the stimulus is done before (in a nutshell).

So, think of examples of negative reinforcement. It may get a little touchy since your answer needs to be related to making friends in the group; plus we're ignoring all the sociology of this scenario. Also, technically, only being exposed to the same negative stimuli "a few more" times is not enough to condition someone--especially a human.

Answer 2

Besides those snags, I'd suggest Beth not be board out of her mind during meetings. Going to meeting (previously neutral stimulus) + boredom (negative stimulus)