Classical Conditioning and Learning Concepts

Learning

The process of acquiring new and relatively enduring information or behaviors

Associative Learning

Learning Associations = conditioning

Classical Conditioning

associating two stimuli

Unconditioned Stimulus

stimulus that triggers a response reflexively

Unconditioned Response

Automatic response to the UCS

Conditioned Stimulus

Previously neutral stimulus that, through learning, gains the power to cause a response

Conditioned Response

response to the CS, it is the same as the UCR

Neutral Stimulus

A stimulus that elicits no response before conditioning

Acquisition

Process of developing a learned response. When the NS occurs right before UCS. Neutral Stimulus becomes Conditioned Stimulus.

Extinction

The CS loses its power to trigger a CR. Repeatedly present the CS alone

Spontaneous Recovery

Return of an extinguished classically conditioned response after a rest period. Recovered response is weaker. Easier to extinguish again

Higher Order Conditioning

Aka second-order conditioning. The CS becomes a UCS for another NS. Weaker response

Stimulus Generalization

An organism produces the same response to two similar stimuli

Stimulus Discrimination

An organism produces different responses to two stimuli

Behaviorism

John Watson. Behavior based on stimulus in environment, not thoughts in mind

Little Albert

Phobias come from classical conditioning

Taste Aversion

Biologically predisposed to develop an aversion to the taste of food we ate before getting sick. Evolution: protection from poisonous food

Your relationship is going badly and your significant other has yelled at you without warning several times. You now feel tense and fearful any time you are around him or her.

Classical Conditioning Example

Yelling at you

UCS

Feeling tense and fearful

UCR

Being around your significant other

CS

Feeling tense and fearful

CR