Re: Conditioned, Re-focused, Part 2

Naturally, by Association: "Of course, naturally, you are judged by the company you keep...guilty by association" 😟 This, warning, admonishment from our elders (most often our parents) regarding how, when others see us, or hear we are keeping certain company, are "paired", "coupled", with nefarious fellows, we might in turn be assumed to be of similar character, at least aspiring to be...While that's "in the ballpark" of associations that might condition us, I am referring here more to the pairings ("stimuli"), especially those close in time, even simultaneously, that might bring about a "natural" response, such as salivating, in dogs -- even some which are sudden, initially unexplainable, "involuntary". These days, among those with whom I may be keeping company myself, in the office that is, I spend a good amount of time trying to increase awareness of these "stimulus-response" pairings that may be bringing about a whole range of responses, as in physiological, emotional, behavioral...frequently referenced by my audience these days as "it/they triggered me!". So, the more "classical" type of conditioning in Psychology is based on more "reflexive" behaviors (internal as well as external) that are prompted initially by an "unconditioned" stimulus (the smell of the meat with Pavlov's unsuspecting dog) which, when consistently paired with yet another (the bell), which is then referred to the "conditioned" stimulus, can itself bring about a similar effect. Whereas in "operant" conditioning, the behavior in question, one which might give us 'leverage' such as Skinner's rat, who learned, first casually, incidentally, even by accident, pushed a lever which produced a morsel of food -- voila! Which, when it is consistently "reinforced", rewarded, may bring about the desired, "target" behavior, the one you are seeking to (counter?)condition. As I say, sometimes such behaviors can come about incidentally, or can be inadvertently reinforced, by parents, for example (when they "tee-hee😂" first time they hear a youngster utter a "potty" word...😠)...at other times more formally ("you will get extra credit if...you'll lose recess if you don't stop...)...and yet at others actively arranged, even "scheduled" to produce and even maintain various skills, behaviors, habits...

Here and Now; Now and Then: By simplicity ("simplicity is elegance" is another meme passed down to us), you might think of the two types of conditioning that bring about various responses in all of us, as those occurring either simultaneously, more "classically" or those that follow close, even more distant in time, the ones that are more "operant" -- either way, or in combinations (these days "hybrids") may become ingrained, almost automatic, natural, parts of our-selves, our "modus operandi"😐. All of this being a set-up to sustain your engagement, audience, interest....focus! while announcing, here and now, that I will continue to post here, "now and then" while simultaneously re-focusing some of my own attention, re-double my efforts on your behalf, prompted, stimulated by a recent spike not only in the price at the pump and grocery stores, but the corresponding rise, strong association with ANXIETY! Which, even if you are a casual, intermittent reader here, you have become accustomed, even anticipate, are "conditioned" to expect me (which may in turn influence my own behavior here, as in "expectancy effects" in Psych.) to write, provoke you to think twice about, what has become one of my favorite pre-occupations within my occupation...

In-variably: "Maybe, just maybe..." The type of response from parents that kept our hopes up...or NOT, depending on the parents' own response schedule, which in turn shaped, or "conditioned" our responses, which kept us coming back for more. Kinda like slot machines, what video games are also based on...a "variable" schedule, sometimes subsumed under the category of "intermittent" schedules of reinforcement. This, in contrast to "continuous reinforcement" schedules, which are typically invoked to provoke -- that is, to start, begin, shape, "condition" a new behavior which, once it is reinforced consistently, tends to produce "new learning"...such as a new skill in any domain, which produces "a strong association between a certain behavior and its consequences" (which, when it doesn't, might be accompanied by the parent comment "how many times its it going to take?!"). Sort of a set-up, a step towards a "partial reinforcement schedule" (no, not where parents show partiality towards your sibling, silly) -- one which reinforces the (un)desired behavior, the pushing of the lever in rats, your clicking of the mouse for us higher forms of intelligence...putting another coin in the slot machine...which can in turn either be predictable ("I'll give you a quarter for every three times you make your bed..."), a type of behavioral 'inflation' 😕😠 to those which may "leave you guessing"...which may, "on the surface" seem "random" but are usually, at least in the case of casinos, scientifically derived, which in turn, for the unsuspecting, expectant participant, keep you coming back for more, believing you can "beat the odds" (which, if you do consistently, result in you being quietly ushered from the premises)..."don't bet on it!" On the other hand, what...

"You can count on..." While card counting might get you "excused" from the host casino, in the classroom this type of pre-occupation is often the desired outcome...of a variable schedule of reinforcement, one where the teacher calling on various students, not just that annoying one who always raising her/his hand...one that has been demonstrated to maximize student preparedness. In any case, what you can count on from me, this blog, while I occupy myself with an earnest, sustained effort to write more extensively (i.e., an actual book😔) on the whole subject of ANXIETY! is that I will simultaneously, write and post here, more intermittently, in-variably, at least once per week, but then again...maybe once this week, twice next...on a Friday this, Tuesday next ("gladly pay you Tuesday for a hamburger today..." one of my favorite quotes from a favorite cartoon growing up...a delayed payment for immediate reinforcement, sort of the opposite of "paying forward")...But, I'm hoping that "maybe, just maybe" I've given you enough here often enough that it will keep you coming back, clicking the mouse, to see if "today's the day..." (AKA "the conditions are right...") Please keep coming back for more, if not every day, continuously, then at least...

"Now and Then", I'm counting on YOU!" (literally) 😊😉