Classical Conditioning Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards for classical conditioning concepts.

Classical Conditioning

A type of unconscious, automatic learning where a neutral stimulus elicits an automatic response.

Associative Learning

Learning that certain events occur together.

Unconditioned Stimulus (US)

A stimulus that automatically triggers a response.

Unconditioned Response

A response that is automatically triggered by the unconditioned stimulus.

Neutral Stimulus

A stimulus that elicits no response before conditioning.

Conditioned Stimulus (CS)

An originally neutral stimulus that, after association with an unconditioned stimulus, triggers a conditioned response.

Conditioned Response

A learned, automatic response to a conditioned stimulus.

Extinction

The diminishing of a conditioned response; occurs when an unconditioned stimulus does not follow a conditioned stimulus.

Spontaneous Recovery

The reappearance of a weakened conditioned response after a rest period.

Generalization

The tendency for stimuli similar to the conditioned stimulus to elicit similar responses.

Discrimination

The learned ability to distinguish between a conditioned stimulus and similar stimuli that are not associated with the unconditioned stimulus.

Higher-Order Conditioning

A procedure in which the conditioned stimulus is paired with a new neutral stimulus, creating a second conditioned stimulus.