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.
How would you like us to help you with this assignment?
I can't identify the issues.
Regarding number 2, I want to make sure that I have the correct answer.
In brief, I analyzed from classical conditioning perspective as follows:
Unconditioned stimuli: the snicking of Treena's friends.
Unconditioned response: Treena's anxiety
Conditioned stimuli: Treena's Participation in any of her classes
Conditioned response: refusing to participate.
Please could anyone help me in this? It's urgent.
Issues?
Treena's expectations of perfection
Treena's withdrawal from friends and classwork
I agree with your second answers.
1. The issues in this case include Treena's sudden loss of confidence and withdrawal from participating in class activities after a negative experience of making a mistake. Additionally, Treena's fear and anxiety in the classroom environment, as well as the negative response from her peers, further contribute to her avoidance behavior.
2. From a classical conditioning perspective, Treena's negative experience at the board became associated with the classroom environment and the act of participating in class activities. This led to the development of a conditioned emotional response, as Treena's heart rate increased, her skin flushed, and she began to perspire when faced with similar situations. The snickering of her peers may have also acted as a conditioned stimulus, evoking fear and anxiety.
3. From an operant conditioning perspective, Treena's avoidance behavior can be seen as a result of negative reinforcement. By withdrawing from participating in class and avoiding situations where mistakes might occur, Treena avoids the embarrassment and negative reactions from her peers. This reinforces her avoidance behavior and strengthens the association between participating in class and negative emotions.
4. To help Treena, a combination of classical and operant conditioning techniques, along with principles of social cognitive theory, can be utilized:
- Classical conditioning: Gradual exposure therapy can be employed to desensitize Treena to the fear-inducing stimuli. This can involve introducing small, manageable tasks or questions in a supportive and non-judgmental environment to gradually rebuild her confidence.
- Operant conditioning: Positive reinforcement should be used to reward Treena's efforts and achievements, no matter how small. This can help to increase her motivation and confidence. Providing constructive feedback and encouragement can also help in reinforcing her progress.
- Social cognitive theory: Modeling and observational learning can be used to show Treena examples of successful participation in class and the positive experiences of her peers. This can help to demonstrate that making mistakes is a normal part of learning and can be overcome.
It is crucial to create a supportive and inclusive classroom environment where Treena feels safe to take risks and make mistakes without fear of judgment. Collaborating with Treena's teachers, parents, and potentially a counselor or therapist can further create an individualized plan to address her specific needs and provide the necessary support.