Classical conditioning is a kind of learning that occurs when a conditioned stimulus (CS) is paired with an unconditioned stimulus (US). Operant conditioning (or instrumental conditioning) is a type of learning in which an individual's behavior is modified by its antecedents and consequences. Aversive Conditioning is the use of something unpleasant, or a punishment, to stop an unwanted behavior. Along with these three types of conditioning there are neutral operants, punishers, and reinforces. All elements of conditioning were used in the motion picture entitled "A Clockwork Orange.".
In the introduction of the film they use a set of operant conditioning which include sexual content and violence. Alex and his friends sexually harass a women on stage. There is no punishment to this type of behavior so they harass yet another woman in her home. Because there is no punishment to this particular act of violence the behavior is repeated. After getting away with these crimes on several different occasions there is finally a negative punishment present. Alex is caught in the act of a gruesome home invasion where he kills a woman. Betrayed by his friends, Alex is left to take full responsibility for his actions and is taken to prison. His behavior suddenly changes after being taken away from an environment where he likely to commit crimes.
After being in Prison for several months Alex manipulates people into thinking he wants to truly be cured. He is later taken to another facility where governmental experiments are used to cure violent tendencies. This treatment is called Ludovico. Classical conditioning becomes present when Alex is given medication that causes him to feel extremely nauseous. He is strapped to a chair forced to watch a series of violent films. These films were silent, in fact, the sound of the film was replaced by Beethoven. As he is watching the films he becomes ill. The point of the experiment was to condition Alex to experience severe nausea when encountering or even thinking about violence, therefore creating an aversion to violent behavior.
