Treena is a personable student in Mr. Jordan’s math class. Mr. Jordan can see that Treena is popular with her peers. He regularly sees her conversing animatedly with her friends in the cafeteria and before and after school.
She does well in class also. Her homework is always on time and is usually well done. Her scores on tests generally range from 85 to 100%. She regularly volunteers to work problems on the board or to answer questions in class. In short, Treena is a good student who does everything that is expected of her.
One day Mr. Jordan asks for volunteers to complete a problem at the board. Treena’s hand shoots up and Mr. Jordan calls on her. “Treena, have a go at it.”
Treena approaches the board and examines the problem. She looks puzzled but begins to work it. She makes an error that will severely impact the final answer. Several other students begin to snicker. “That’s enough,” warns Mr. Jordan, “Let Treena finish in peace.”
Treena’s heart begins to beat faster. Her skin becomes flushed. She begins to perspire. The other children in the class begin to fidget. Some begin snickering again. After several seconds of standing at the board, but doing nothing, Treena runs out of the room in tears.
“I can’t do this, Mr. Jordan, I just can’t,” she says through her tears as she leaves.
Mr. Jordan follows Treena and manages to calm her down. He reassures her that all students make mistakes, that there is no shame in it. He then asks that she return to class, which she does. After this, Treena no longer participates in Mr. Jordan’s class. Once in Ms. Crauser’s class, she begins to answer a question and “freezes.” The information seems to vanish from her head as she begins to talk. After that she no longer participates in any of her classes. When asked to do so, she simply looks down at her desk, refusing to say a word.
1.What are the issues in this case?
2.Analyze this case from a classical conditioning perspective.
3.Analyze this case from an operant conditioning perspective.
4.Develop a plan to help Treena, using principles of both classical and operant conditioning and social cognitive theory.
Treena is a personable student in Mr. Jordan’s math class. Mr. Jordan.
hi where can i find the answer of this case study ?
1. The issues in this case include Treena experiencing intense anxiety and embarrassment after making a mistake in front of her classmates. This incident has led to a loss of confidence and a subsequent refusal to participate in class. Treena's avoidance behavior and refusal to speak in any of her classes indicate a potential development of social anxiety or fear of public speaking.
2. From a classical conditioning perspective, Treena's initial experience of making a mistake and being subjected to ridicule from her peers has created a negative emotional response (fear, anxiety, embarrassment) associated with participating in class. This response has become a conditioned response to the situation where she is required to answer questions or perform in front of others. The laughs and snickers from her classmates have acted as an unconditioned stimulus, leading to a conditioned response of fear and avoidance.
3. From an operant conditioning perspective, Treena's avoidance and refusal to participate in class can be seen as a learned behavior. By experiencing the negative emotions and being embarrassed in front of her classmates, Treena has learned that avoiding similar situations can help her avoid those negative consequences. This behavior has been reinforced by the removal of the aversive stimuli (snickers, ridicule), creating a negative reinforcement.
4. To help Treena, a plan can be developed by combining principles of classical and operant conditioning, as well as social cognitive theory. First, it is important to create a supportive and non-judgmental environment in the classroom. Mr. Jordan can reinforce positive behaviors by praising Treena for attempting to answer questions, even if she makes mistakes. This can help her build confidence in her abilities.
In terms of classical conditioning, systematic desensitization can be used. This involves gradually exposing Treena to anxiety-provoking situations, starting with less challenging tasks and gradually increasing the difficulty. Pairing these situations with positive experiences and reinforcing Treena for her effort and progress can help reduce her fear response.
From an operant conditioning perspective, shaping techniques can be employed. Mr. Jordan can provide positive reinforcement, such as verbal praise or small rewards, for Treena's incremental progress in speaking out in class. This will encourage her to continue participating and build her confidence over time.
Furthermore, social cognitive theory suggests that observing others who successfully handle similar situations can help Treena develop new coping strategies. Mr. Jordan can invite guest speakers or role models to share their experiences and strategies to overcome public speaking anxiety. Treena can also benefit from visualization and mental rehearsal techniques, where she visualizes herself successfully participating in class and handling potential challenges.
Overall, a combination of these approaches can help Treena regain her confidence and overcome her fear of participating in class, allowing her to fully engage in her learning environment again. It is essential to provide ongoing support, understanding, and patience throughout this process.