4A: Classical Conditioning

What is classical conditioing?

Approach to learning, illustrated by a three-phase process that results in the involuntary association between a neutral stimulus and unconditioned stimulus to produce a conditioned response.

What is learning?

Defined as a relatively permanent change in behaviour that occurs as a result of experience.

What are the types of learning?

Intentional vs Unintentional / Active vs Passive

What is conditioning?

The process of learning when behaviours when behaviours, events, and stimuli become associated with each other.

What is the First phase (Before Conditioning)?

Involves response to an unconditioned stimulus (UCS) that causes an automatic response (UCR); a neutral stimulus (NS) produces no response.

What is the Second phase (During Conditioning)?

Involves developing an association between the UCS and the NS; NS becomes a conditioned stimulus (CS).

What is the Third phase (After Conditioning)?

The CS now produces a conditioned response (CR) due to the association with the UCS.

What is Classical Conditioning?

Approach to learning involving involuntary association between a neutral stimulus and an unconditioned stimulus to produce a conditioned response.

What is Pavlov’s Dog Research?

Dogs learned to associate sounds (like a bell) with food and began salivating in response to the sound alone.

What is Extinction?

Occurs when the conditioned stimulus (e.g., bell) is presented repeatedly without the unconditioned stimulus (e.g., food), leading to weakening of the conditioned response.

What is Spontaneous recovery?

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

What is Stimulus generalisation?

Stimuli similar to the conditioned stimulus can trigger the same conditioned response.

What is Stimulus discrimination?

Ability to distinguish between similar stimuli and only respond to the specific conditioned stimulus.

Give an example of an Application of classical conditioning.

Pairing an unwanted behaviour with an unpleasant stimulus to discourage the behaviour.