Treena is a personable student in Mr. Jordan’s math class. Mr. Jordan can see that Treena is popular with her peers. He regularly sees her conversing animatedly with her friends in the cafeteria and before and after school.
She does well in class also. Her homework is always on time and is usually well done. Her scores on tests generally range from 85 to 100%. She regularly volunteers to work problems on the board or to answer questions in class. In short, Treena is a good student who does everything that is expected of her.
One day Mr. Jordan asks for volunteers to complete a problem at the board. Treena’s hand shoots up and Mr. Jordan calls on her. “Treena, have a go at it.”
Treena approaches the board and examines the problem. She looks puzzled but begins to work it. She makes an error that will severely impact the final answer. Several other students begin to snicker. “That’s enough,” warns Mr. Jordan, “Let Treena finish in peace.”
Treena’s heart begins to beat faster. Her skin becomes flushed. She begins to perspire. The other children in the class begin to fidget. Some begin snickering again. After several seconds of standing at the board, but doing nothing, Treena runs out of the room in tears.
“I can’t do this, Mr. Jordan, I just can’t,” she says through her tears as she leaves.
Mr. Jordan follows Treena and manages to calm her down. He reassures her that all students make mistakes, that there is no shame in it. He then asks that she return to class, which she does. After this, Treena no longer participates in Mr. Jordan’s class. Once in Ms. Crauser’s class, she begins to answer a question and “freezes.” The information seems to vanish from her head as she begins to talk. After that she no longer participates in any of her classes. When asked to do so, she simply looks down at her desk, refusing to say a word.
1.What are the issues in this case?
2.Analyze this case from a classical conditioning perspective.
3.Analyze this case from an operant conditioning perspective.
4.Develop a plan to help Treena, using principles of both classical and operant conditioning and social cognitive theory.
2 answers
3 answers