Classical & Operant Conditioning

What is Pavlovian (Classical) Conditioning?

A type of learning where a neutral stimulus becomes associated with a meaningful stimulus to elicit a conditioned response. Discovered by Ivan Pavlov.

What is an Unconditioned Stimulus (US)?

A stimulus that naturally triggers a reflexive response without prior learning (e.g., food causes salivation).

What is an Unconditioned Response (UR)?

A natural, reflexive response elicited by the unconditioned stimulus (e.g., salivation to food).

What is a Neutral Stimulus (NS)?

A stimulus that initially produces no specific response other than attention (e.g., the sound of a bell before conditioning).

What is a Conditioned Stimulus (CS)?

A previously neutral stimulus that, after being paired with the US, elicits a conditioned response (e.g., a bell that now causes salivation).

What is a Conditioned Response (CR)?

A learned response to the conditioned stimulus (e.g., salivation to the bell sound).

Example of an Unconditioned Stimulus (US)?

Food in Pavlov’s experiment, which naturally triggers salivation.

Example of a Conditioned Stimulus (CS)?

The bell after conditioning in Pavlov’s experiment.

Example of an Unconditioned Response (UR)?

Salivation in response to food.

Example of a Conditioned Response (CR)?

Salivation in response to the bell after conditioning.

What is Acquisition in classical conditioning?

The process of learning the association between the NS and US, leading to the NS becoming a CS.

What is Extinction in classical conditioning?

The weakening of the conditioned response when the conditioned stimulus is presented without the unconditioned stimulus repeatedly.

What is Spontaneous Recovery?

The reappearance of an extinguished conditioned response after a rest period without further conditioning.

What is Stimulus Generalization?

When stimuli similar to the conditioned stimulus also elicit the conditioned response (e.g., different bell tones causing salivation).

What is Stimulus Discrimination?

The ability to differentiate between the conditioned stimulus and other, similar stimuli that do not predict the US.

What role did Pavlov’s dogs play in psychology?

They demonstrated how associations are learned between stimuli (CS and US) to create conditioned responses.

What is Higher-Order Conditioning?

When a conditioned stimulus is paired with a new neutral stimulus, causing the new stimulus to also elicit the CR.

Real-life example of classical conditioning?

Hearing a dentist’s drill (CS) causes anxiety (CR) because of the association with pain (US).

What is Habituation in classical conditioning?

The decrease in response to a repeated stimulus that is irrelevant or not paired with an unconditioned stimulus.

What is Ivan Pavlov’s contribution to psychology?

Pavlov discovered classical conditioning, establishing the basis for studying learned behavior and stimulus-response associations.

What is Operant Conditioning?

A type of learning in which behavior is influenced by consequences, such as reinforcement or punishment. Developed by B.F. Skinner.

Who is B.F. Skinner?

A psychologist who developed the theory of operant conditioning and conducted experiments with animals using the “Skinner Box.”

What is a Reinforcement in operant conditioning?

A consequence that increases the likelihood of a behavior being repeated.

What is Positive Reinforcement?

Adding a desirable stimulus to increase the likelihood of a behavior (e.g., giving candy for good behavior).

What is Negative Reinforcement?

Removing an unpleasant stimulus to increase the likelihood of a behavior (e.g., turning off a loud alarm by getting out of bed).

What is Punishment in operant conditioning?

A consequence that decreases the likelihood of a behavior being repeated.

What is Positive Punishment?

Adding an unpleasant stimulus to decrease the likelihood of a behavior (e.g., receiving a speeding ticket).

What is Negative Punishment?

Removing a desirable stimulus to decrease the likelihood of a behavior (e.g., taking away a toy after bad behavior).

What is a Primary Reinforcer?

A stimulus that is naturally rewarding (e.g., food, water, sleep).

What is a Secondary Reinforcer?

A stimulus that becomes rewarding through association with a primary reinforcer (e.g., money, praise).

What is Shaping in operant conditioning?

Gradually reinforcing successive approximations of a desired behavior until the behavior is achieved.

What is Extinction in operant conditioning?

The decrease or disappearance of a learned behavior when reinforcement is no longer provided.

What is a Skinner Box?

A controlled environment used by B.F. Skinner to study animal behavior through reinforcement and punishment.

What is a Schedule of Reinforcement?

A pattern that defines how often a behavior is reinforced (e.g., fixed ratio, variable interval).

What is Continuous Reinforcement?

Reinforcing a behavior every time it occurs, which leads to rapid learning but fast extinction.

What is Partial (Intermittent) Reinforcement?

Reinforcing a behavior only some of the time, which leads to slower learning but greater resistance to extinction.

What is a Fixed-Ratio Schedule?

Reinforcement occurs after a set number of responses (e.g., getting paid after producing 10 items).

What is a Variable-Ratio Schedule?

Reinforcement occurs after an unpredictable number of responses (e.g., slot machine gambling).

What is a Fixed-Interval Schedule?

Reinforcement is given after a fixed amount of time has passed (e.g., a weekly paycheck).

What is a Variable-Interval Schedule?

Reinforcement is given at unpredictable time intervals (e.g., checking for an email response).