PSY-5109 v2

Skinner’s Descriptive Behavior/Operant Conditioning Theory. (2006). Elsevier Science & Technology.
Read chapter 1

McSweeney, F. K., & Murphy, E. S. (2014). The Wiley-Blackwell handbook of operant and classical conditioning. Wiley Blackwell.
These pages provide you with a better understanding of operant and classical conditioning - review as needed.

Malone, J.C. (2014, March 15). Did John B. Watson really "found" behaviorism? Behavior Analyst, 37(1),1-12.
This article provides an overview of the beginning of behaviorism.

Lindström, B., Bellander, M., Schultner, D.T., Chang, A., Tobler, P., & Amodio, D.M. (2021). A computational reward learning account of social media engagement. Nat Commun 12, 1311.
This article presents an overview of the relationship between reinforcement and social media use.

Tyner, S., Brewer, A., Helman, M., Leon, Y., Pritchard, J., & Schlund, M. (2016). Nice doggie! Contact desensitization plus reinforcement decreases dog phobias for children with autism. Behavior Analysis in Practice, 9(1), 54–57.
This article presents a case study using desensitization to reduce a phobia.

Dubord, G. (2011). Part 12. Systematic desensitization. Canadian Family Physician Medecin de Famille Canadien, 57(11), 1299.
This article provides an overview of the development of a hierarchy for systematic desensitization.

Films Media Group. (2010). Into the mind: Emotions. Films On Demand. Retrieved July 31, 2023, from https://fod.infobase.com/PortalPlaylists.aspx?wID=102577&xtid=43511.
Watch 7’30” to 14’ to view the original video of the Little Albert study.

Rockloff, M., Stuart, G., Kim, H. S., & Hodgins, D. C. (2020). Free-spins spur gamblers to quit EGMs early: An online EGM study. Journal of Gambling Studies, 36(2), 435–443. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10899-019-09925-1
One of the principles of operant conditioning is reinforcement schedules. This study will provide an alternate explanation for a specific behavior.
Students will need to select National University in order to access this document.

Nash, J. (2022, September 23). Systematic Desensitization Steps: 13 Techniques & Worksheets . Positive Psychology.
This website provides a good overview of the steps involved in systematic desensitization.

Jackson, J. (2021). Social media is making us behave like rats, one study finds. Newsweek.
Article detailing research on how social media can be addictive due to reinforcement associated with likes and followers.

Lindström, B., Bellander, M., Schultner, D. T., Chang, A., Tobler, P. N., & Amodio, D. M. (2021). A computational reward learning account of social media engagement. Nature Communications, 12(1).
Article detailing research on social media and rewards.

SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, Inc. (2025). Animal training basics. Seaworld.org.
Basic information about applying operant and classical conditioning when training animals.

Wells, V. K. (2014). Behavioural psychology, marketing and consumer behaviour: a literature review and future research agenda. Journal of Marketing Management, 30(11–12), 1119–1158.
Behaviorism applied to consumers and marketing.

Gerwitz, J. (2001). J. B. Watson's approach to learning: Why Pavlov? Why not Thorndike? APA PsycNet.
A brief account of the life and work of Watson.

Skinner, B. F. (1971). Beyond freedom and dignity. Penguin Books.
Skinner’s original book (available for free download) to review as needed.

Primitive Agency. (2025). Marketing examples of classical conditioning. Primitive Agency.
Fun examples in the world around us of classical conditioning at work.