Module 9: Classical Conditioning

Define learning

Permanent change in knowledge/behavior based on past experiences

What is the definition of a fixed action pattern?

Instinct; inborn behavior

What is imprinting?

Very young of a species will instinctually follow the first slow moving thing they see after birth (normally their mother)

What did Konrad Lorenz discover about imprinting?

He removed the mother goose from her babies before hatching, the babies imprinted onto him and followed him around. Discovered that after a certain point, the babies will not follow anyone else, even if he introduces the mother to them.

Who is the scientist most associated with classical conditioning?

Ivan Pavlov

What do advertisers use in ads and commercials to get the viewer to buy the product or service being advertised?

Condition the buyer to associate celebrity with product and expect to “become” like the celebrity if they use the product.

How does one know when classical conditioning has occurred?

There is a conditioned reaction without the unconditioned stimulus being present.

In Pavlov’s research, was acquisition of salivation to the bell tone gradual or immediate?

The process was gradual

How are classically conditioned responses extinguished?

Present CS without the UCS

What did Pavlov believe must happen between the UCS and CS in order for classical conditioning to occur?

Pair them closely

What is higher order (second-order) conditioning?

Conditioned stimulus is paired with an already existing CS

Give an example of higher order conditioning.

Dog is classically conditioned to drool to the sound of a metronome after it is paired with food. Metronome is then paired with a black screen, and the dog then is conditioned to drool to the black screen.

Define spontaneous recovery.

CR thought to be extinguished comes back

Stimulus generalization

CR to a stimulus similar to CS

Define Extinction

Disappearance/unlearning of a CR

Stimulus Discrimination

Specific response to specific stimulus

Describe Watson & Raynor’s research with Little Albert.

Applied Pavlov’s techniques to create fears in kids.

- Bang 2 metal pipes together creating loud noise and presenting a small rodent, creating a fear of the animal

- UCS: Loud noise, UCR: Cry, CS: Rat, CR: Afraid of rat

Could the Little Albert experiment be replicated today? Why or why not?

No, it’s unethical to cause emotional distress in a baby.

Describe Garcia's research on taste aversion.

His research differed from other classical conditioning because when the rats were presented with sweet water, the pain didn’t come until hours later

UCS (pain) = UCR (Avoidance of pain)

UCS (pain) + CS (sweet water) = UCR (avoidance of pain)

CS (sweet water) = avoidance of sweet water)

Is the taste aversion response typically conditioned in one pairing of CS and UCS or multiple pairings?

One pairing

In Garcia’s taste aversion studies, were the CS and UCS separated by a time span of a few seconds or several hours?

Several hours

Describe some examples of classical conditioning occurring after only one pairing of UCS and CS in humans and animals.

Phobias, disliking certain foods, taste aversion

What is meant by biological preparedness?

Classical conditioning can occur faster if it’s tied to survival or posed as a threat

Describe Mary Cover Jones’ counterconditioning experiment

She unconditioned a child’s fear of rabbits using milk and cookies.

What are phobias?

Extreme irrational fear

Are some phobias a result of classical conditioning?

Yes

Describe what happens during systematic desensitization.

Gradual exposure to phobia

Describe what happens during flooding.

Prolonged, immediate, extreme exposure to phobia