3.7: Classical Conditioning in Psychology

Flashcards covering key concepts of classical conditioning from psychology, including definitions and explanations of important terms.

Classical Conditioning

A learning process in which a neutral stimulus becomes associated with a meaningful stimulus, eliciting a conditioned response.

Unconditioned Stimulus (UCS)

A stimulus that naturally and automatically triggers a response, such as food causing salivation.

Unconditioned Response (UCR)

The natural, unlearned reaction to the unconditioned stimulus, for example, salivation in response to food.

Conditioned Stimulus (CS)

A previously neutral stimulus that, after association with the unconditioned stimulus, triggers a conditioned response.

Conditioned Response (CR)

The learned response to the conditioned stimulus, such as salivation in response to a bell.

Extinction

The gradual weakening and disappearance of a conditioned response when the conditioned stimulus is presented without the unconditioned stimulus.

Spontaneous Recovery

The reappearance of a previously extinguished conditioned response after a rest period without any new learning trials.

Higher-Order Conditioning

A conditioning process in which a previously neutral stimulus becomes a conditioned stimulus after being paired with an established conditioned stimulus.

Counterconditioning

A therapeutic technique that replaces an undesired response to a stimulus with a desired one by associating the stimulus with a new positive unconditioned stimulus.

Taste Aversion

A long-lasting aversion to a particular food associated with illness after consuming it, often resulting from one-trial conditioning.

Biological Preparedness

The innate predisposition of organisms to form certain associations more easily due to evolutionary factors.

Habituation

A decrease in response to a stimulus after repeated exposure, where the organism becomes accustomed to a familiar, repetitive stimulus.