Question

1.Use the principles of classical and operant conditioning to explain how you would teach the baby to become just like Sherlock Holmes – a clever and successful detective, rude, with no interest in relationships. Explain at least five ways you would manipulate the environment to shape the baby to become like Sherlock Holmes.

2.To what degree do you think these conditioning principles alone shape personality, and what problems might you expect with this approach on humans

Answer 1

1. Five effective ways that can help the baby become like Sherlock:-

• By engaging him or her in viewing movies and thrillers that enhance cognitive functioning or are smart which makes a person feel inquisitive and curious to find what's more in the box which is unexplored.
• He or she should be encouraged to solve puzzles, games, general mental mathematics task which help in enhancing concrete operational skills of a child.
• The child can be reinforced while committing such positive behaviors so that it can be repeated and eventually strengthened for the desired outcome.
• The best way is the use of token economy which can be used to provide or reward him with token or coins after specific interval and after collecting a certain amount he or she can be given a new mystery or story to solve.
• Let him or her explore and be curious about the world. The questions may be witty and strange at first but such inquisitive questions can only help the child develop concentration and better observation skills about the world.

2. Such propositions and methods can highly shape one's personality as it can help develop some traits that can shape personality of an individual the way he or she actually wants. But, to develop a certain skill, one also needs a significant IQ level which is very important that cannot be learnt. Also, an aptitude for that skill is required without which it is totally impossible to adapt or to get influenced to respond in a certain way or anything which can shape our behavior in terms of certain characteristics like here was to be like Sherlock Holmes.