Describe a time when a socializing agent (your parent, a teacher, a coach, etc.) used instrumental conditioning.What was the reinforcement? What was the reinforcement schedule? Then, discuss how effective the conditioning was, drawing on your knowledge of the factors that influence the effectiveness of instrumental conditioning.

Instrumental conditioning is a process of socialization in which a person learns a behavior based upon rewards and punishments.My high school volleyball coach wanted the team to make as few mistakes as possible.She used sprints during practices as a punishment when we made mistakes.She delivered the reinforcement on a variable-ratio schedule; sometimes we would sprint after one mistake, sometimes after ten.Though unpleasant, the conditioning was effective in that we played better and made fewer mistakes in order to avoid sprints.We also developed a sense of self-efficacy in our volleyball abilities, leading to intrinsic motivation and self-reinforcement to play well and avoid mistakes.