Sheldon training Penny, and excellent example of Operant Conditioning in Social Interation

I found this online and had to share it. I had watched this episode when it first aired and laughed so hard and thought it was an awesome portrayal of operant conditioning in a "real life" setting. I then found the following lesson plan on Mindgate Media (which is no longer being maintained as of 2012) and wanted to share it before the archives disappeared into the ether or whatevs.

In case the embedded video doesn't work, here's the url:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qy_mIEnnlF4&feature=PlayList&p=94C04054D935A5CB&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=16

Also, here's the direct link to the Mindgate Media link:
http://mindgatemedia.com/lesson/operant-conditioning-techniques-implemented-in-the-big-bang-theory/

Here's the Learning Objectives and Discussion Questions Provided by Mindgate Media & RECOMMENDED BY Katherine Roberto, Adjunct Professor, Tarrant County College

Learning Objectives

• Introduction: Operant conditioning is a very powerful training method that involves shaping behavior through rewards. When a subject performs a certain behavior, he is rewarded. This increases the likelihood that the behavior will be repeated. Complex behaviors can be “shaped” by rewarding successive approximations of the behavior. Although in this video clip one of the characters says that he is deliberately applying “a proven scientific technique” to quiet his overly talkative visitor, in fact using operant techniques to shape behavior is a staple of nearly all human social interaction. The basic principle underlying the star given to the pre-schooler, the bonus given to the wall street executive, or the warm thanks to someone who has just done a favor is the same: reward the behavior and it will likely be repeated.
• After completing the lesson, students will be able to describe the principles of operant conditioning and provide examples drawn from everyday life.
• They will be able to design a protocol for shaping someone’s behavior in the real world.
• Students will be able explain the advantages of using reward rather than punishment to modify behavior.

Discussion Questions

• Explain the principles of operant conditioning before playing the video.
• Play the video for students and ask if Sheldon is really treating Penny like a “lab rat” or merely being overly obvious in his approach.
• Use this video in any class in which learning theories are taught.
• Ask students to discuss the proposition that all social interactions involve an element of operant conditioning.
• Ask students for examples of how behavior is shaped by social rewards.
• Note that while praise or treats are commonly given as rewards to children, attention can be a very powerful reward as well; therefore, merely attending (or failing to attend) to a behavior can affect the likelihood of its repetition, as parents well know.
• Ask students to design a protocol using social rewards or attention to reduce an annoying behavior [such as continually being late, forgetting to return things] of someone they know then share it with the class.
• Have students explain how the behavior would be shaped.
• Finally, ask students why rewards work better than punishment. What are the unintended negative consequences of punishment that make reward a much more desirable way of shaping behavior?

I also found this clip of "The Office" that exemplifies Classical Conditioning, ;)

And here's the youtube video url incase the embedded video doesn't work: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nE8pFWP5QDM&list=PLE218FF6A36C0BFB9