Classical Conditioning

Behavioral Perspective

Focuses on observable behaviors and how they are learned.

Classical Conditioning

Learning by associating two stimuli so one predicts the other.

Stimulus

Anything that causes a response.

Acquisition

The initial learning of a stimulus-response relationship.

Unconditioned Stimulus (US)

Stimulus that naturally triggers a response.

Unconditioned Response (UR)

Natural, automatic reaction to a US.

Conditioned Stimulus (CS)

Previously neutral stimulus that now triggers a response.

Conditioned Response (CR)

Learned response to a CS.

Extinction

Weakening of a conditioned response when CS is no longer paired with US.

Spontaneous Recovery

Reappearance of a CR after a pause following extinction.

Stimulus Discrimination

Learning to respond only to a specific stimulus, not similar ones.

Stimulus Generalization

Responding to stimuli similar to the CS.

Higher-order conditioning

CS is paired with a new neutral stimulus to create a second CS.

Little Albert Study

Watson’s experiment showing fear can be classically conditioned.

Conditioned Emotional Response (CER)

Emotional reaction learned through classical conditioning.

Taste aversion

Avoiding a food after becoming sick from it, even if illness isn’t caused by food.

Biological Preparedness

Innate tendency to learn certain associations more easily.

Habituation

Decrease in response to a repeated stimulus.