For this assignment, you will examine how learning theories canbe used to understand persisting behavior, as well as how anunderstanding of these theories can help change behavior. First,select a bad habit or undesired behavior that a person might wantto change from the following lists: procrastination, bingedrinking, swearing, excessive caffeine consumption, chroniclateness, smoking, fear of speaking in public, or frequent roadrage. Now, suppose a client has come to you because they want tounderstand and change their behavior.
Address the following sections in your Case Study Analysis:
(a) Identification of Behavior (Introduction paragraph)
Briefly describe the client's undesired behavior that he/shewould like to change. Include details related to how long thebehavior has persisted, the severity/frequency, and how it impactsthe person's life.
(b) Based on what you have learned about classical, operant, andsocial learning theories, develop three brief descriptions (lessthan one page each), describing how each of the theories could helpexplain the development and/or persistence of the undesiredbehavior. Include terms and concepts related to theories that aremost relevant in the plan for the client as indicated below.
Plan 1: How could classical conditioning explain the developmentand the persistence of the client's undesired behavior? Include inyour discussion coverage of the relationship between andunconditional stimulus, unconditioned response, conditionedstimulus, and conditioned response.
Plan 2: How could operant conditioning explain the developmentand persistence of the client's undesired behavior? Includediscussion of shaping and reinforcers (positive and negative), aswell as punishments. How could operant conditioning be used to helplessen or change the behavior?
Plan 3: How could cognitive and social learning theories explainthe development and persistence of the client's undesired behavior?In particular, discuss the role of latent learning, learnedhelplessness, vicarious reinforcement and/or vicarious punishmentas applicable.
(c) Recommendation - Conclusion Section: Now that you haveexamined scenarios related to the persistence of the undesiredbehavior, consider how you would recommend the client change theirbehavior. Select one of the learning theories above and describehow it could be used to help the client lessen and change thedesired behavior.
Requirements: Length = approximately 3-4 pages
