A Flower For A Muse 꽃｜花

In-Bloom 일

Previously-

"Ever heard of Pavlov's dog?"
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I shook my head because the last psych class I took was 6 years ago in my freshman year, and I barely remember anything that happened in my early high school years. I mean, who does?

HOKU: Good, I'm about to show you that Pavlov's dog demonstrates classical conditioning.

He sent me a smirk that made my spine shiver. Somehow the mood switched, the air felt cold.

HOKU: Now, do you prefer head scratches or cookies?

Im too much of a sweet tooth to decline treats.

CAESAR: Frosted cookies!

He gave me a thumbs up, grabbing the container full of yummy treats and leaned forward.

HOKU: In Pavlov's Dog, the experiment showed two types of reinforcement and same with punishments, first, I will show you what positive reinforcement is. If you put your hand on mine whenever I opened my palm, I'll reward you with a cookie.

He extended his hand out but he didn't open his palm, so i waited, a few more seconds went by and he finally opened his hand, so I put mine on top, he rewarded me a cookie.

HOKU: Good boy, Caesar.

Taking my hands off, I blushed at the compliment as I chewed on the cookie. As I finished my cookie with one more big bite, wanting more, I put my hand on his again, and he gave me another one. After that we did this for a few more times, he broke up the all cookies into four pieces so we would have enough.

HOKU: That's positive reinforcement, increasing a behavior by adding a stimulus. I was increasing your behavior of putting your hand in mine by rewarding you a cookie.

CAESAR: Woah, and it works, really well.

He laughed at my comment.

HOKU: Now I'm going to show you negative reinforcement, which means removing a stimulus to increase a behavior. Every time you give me one cookie, I'll give you two.

I nodded, giving him the cookie I had to him and he gave me two, double snacks!

I took 5 bites to finish the first cookie, making a mess everywhere, dropping crumbs.

CAESAR: Sorry, I have the worst sweet tooth ever.

HOKU: Don't worry I can clean it up.

He says as he wiped my mouth with his thumb and handed me a tissue.

CAESAR: ...Thank you.

I shyly beamed at him.

HOKU: Now, we are moving on to punishments. First is Positive punishment, let me show you before explaining, eat another cookie.

Handing me another piece, I happily opened by mouth.

Before I could chew, his hand flew up and slapped my face.

The sound echoed throughout the apartment, I dropped my cookie in shock.

CAESAR: What was that-

He shoved another cookie on my lips, but I didn't open it this time to eat them.

HOKU: Why don't you want one?

CAESAR: ... I'm scared to get hit again...?

My voice came out weak.

HOKU: Exactly. Positive punishment means adding a stimulus to remove a behavior, I slapped you so you don't eat another cookie.

My face was still stinging from the impact of that slap, it hurt to the point of not wanting to eat another cookie again.