Second-Order Conditioning Examples

Second-Order Conditioning Examples

Example 1: Fondness of KungFu Panda Dolls

  • Scenario: Developed a strange fondness for KungFu Panda Dolls and experience happiness when seeing one.
  • Task: Invent an experience that could produce this liking via second-order conditioning.
  • CS1: Buying a lottery ticket at 7-11.
  • US: Winning 300300.
  • UR: Elation.
  • CR to CS1: 7-11 gives positive feelings.
  • CS2: A life-size KungFu Panda doll advertisement in 7-11.
  • CR to CS2: Love for KungFu Panda Dolls.

Example 2: Aversion of Plastic KungFu Panda Dolls

  • Scenario: Developed a strange aversion to plastic KungFu Panda Dolls (phobia).
  • Task: Invent an experience that could produce this phobia via second-order conditioning.
  • CS1: Watching a TV show about lemurs.
  • US: Friend pours a bucket of ice water.
  • UR: Startled and angered.
  • CR to CS1: Anxiety and slight anger when seeing nature shows with lemurs.
  • CS2: A TV show featuring pandas and lemurs playing together.
  • CR to CS2: Aversion to Pandas (including KungFu Panda).

Example 3: Aversion to Plastic KungFu Panda Dolls (Incorrect Example)

  • Scenario: Developed a strange aversion to plastic KungFu Panda Dolls, experiencing nervousness and fear when seeing one.
  • Task: Identify what’s wrong with the story as an example of second-order conditioning and fix it.
  • WRONG CS1: Making dinner.
  • WRONG US: Cutting oneself while cutting tomatoes.
  • WRONG UR: Pain.
  • CR to CS1: Anxiety when making dinner.
  • CR to CS2: Anxiety when seeing pandas at the zoo or on TV.
  • Problem: The second-order cue (panda) is paired with a US (cut), which makes this regular first-order conditioning, not second-order conditioning. "Dinner" is an ambiguous CS.
  • FIX CS1: Chopping tomatoes.
  • US: Cutting oneself.
  • UR: Hurt.
  • CR to CS1: Not liking tomatoes.
  • CS2: Friend serves tomatoes in her favorite panda tomato bowl (pairing CS2 with CS1 in the absence of the US).
  • CR to CS2: Not liking pandas.

Example 4: Aversion to Plastic KungFu Panda Dolls (Incorrect Example)

  • Scenario: Developed a strange aversion to plastic KungFu Panda Dolls.
  • Task: Identify what’s wrong with the story as an example of second-order conditioning and fix it.
  • WRONG CS1: Watching a TV show about lemurs.
  • US: Friend pours a bucket of ice water all over.
  • UR: Startled and angered.
  • WRONG CS1: The show also featured zebras.
  • CR to CS1: Anxiety and slight anger when seeing nature shows with lemurs or zebras.
  • CS2: Another show featuring lemurs and zebras. The zebra reminds of Pandas.
  • CR to CS2: Aversion to Pandas.
  • Problem: Both lemurs and zebra as CS1 is confusing. This is more like generalization of first-order conditioning (zebras are like pandas [in color], so also 'respond' to pandas).
  • FIX CS1: Pair lemurs with ice bucket.
  • US: Ice bucket.
  • Pair pandas with lemurs but with no ice bucket. Get rid of zebras altogether.
  • CS2: Pandas