Unit 3.7: Classical Conditioning

Classical conditioning

A type of learning where a person or animal learns to connect two stimuli together.

Association

A mental link formed between two events or stimuli.

Acquisition

The learning phase when a conditioned response is first formed.

Associative learning

Learning that happens when a connection is made between events or behaviors and outcomes.

Unconditioned stimulus (UCS)

A stimulus that naturally causes a response without learning.

Unconditioned response (UR)

A natural, automatic response to an unconditioned stimulus.

Conditioned stimulus (CS)

A previously neutral stimulus that, after learning, triggers a response.

Conditioned response (CR)

A learned response to a conditioned stimulus.

Extinction

The weakening or disappearance of a learned response when the stimulus is no longer paired.

Spontaneous recovery

The sudden return of a learned response after a break, even after extinction.

Stimulus discrimination

The ability to tell the difference between similar stimuli.

Stimulus generalization

Responding the same way to similar stimuli.

Higher-order conditioning

When a conditioned stimulus is paired with another stimulus to create a new conditioned response.

Counterconditioning

Replacing an unwanted response with a more desirable response.

Taste aversion

Learning to avoid a food after it causes sickness.

One-trial conditioning

Learning that happens after only one pairing of stimuli.

Biological preparedness

The idea that organisms are naturally more likely to learn certain associations.

Habituation

A decrease in response after repeated exposure to a stimulus.