Question

Almost all stimuli that function as reinforcers in adulthood are conditioned. Of course, we will still "work for food" and other primary reinforcers, but for the most part, we are engaging in behaviors to come into contact with stimuli that have become reinforcing to us over the years.  Share a particular conditioned stimulus that functions as a reinforcer for your behavior, and how you think that conditioning came to be.

Answer 1

• Classical Conditioning involves conditioning a reflexive behavior by pairing a neutral stimulus with a naturally occurring one. After a certain amount of time, the neutral stimulus alone is sufficient for triggering the reflex.
• The previously neutral stimulus which has become a conditioned stimulus which reinforces my behaviour in everyday life is the first cup of coffee I have everyday.Without coffee,I cannot even force myself to get dressed to go to work.Over past few years it has become conditioned to my early morning energy behaviour and become motivated for the day ahead.
• Each day I get up,press the button of my coffee machine and wait for my first freshly brewed coffee,to kickstart my day.Now it has become a routine and a conditioned stimulus for my eneregized behaviour,without it my brain and body cannot function.And I do this at the same time each day,its 7 am and my coffee should be ready and by 9 am I am ready to leave for work.
• Its a simple example but over the years,coffee has become a reinforcer for my energized morning behaviour.