Classical Conditioning - Textbook

Classical conditioning

• behaviourist principle focused on learning through association

• a form of learning where an existing reflex response is elicited by the repeated pairing of two unrelated response

response

behaviour that emerges as a result of a stimulus

reflex stimulus

• an automatic, involuntary and almost instantaneous response to a stimulus

• don’t require a conscious thought

• eg. contraction of pupil when eye is exposed to bright light

neutral stimulus

stimulus on its own does not elicit a particular response

unconditioned stimulus

• stimulus with the inherent ability to elicit a particular response

• eg. dog sees food, dog salivates (US is food)

unconditioned response

• the reflexive reaction to a specific unconditioned stimulus

• eg. dog sees food, dog salivates (UR is salivation)

learning occurs when:

• Neutral stimulus + unconditioned stimulus → unconditioned response (repeatedly done)

• eg. dog bowl + food → salivation

conditioned stimulus

• stimulus that elicits a particular response due to learning

• eg. dog bowl = CS (association has been made)

conditioned response

• a reflexive response elicited by a previously neutral stimulus as a consequence of learning

stimulus generalisation

• when a stimulus similar to a conditioned stimulus elicits the same response as the conditioned stimulus

• eg. Little Albert Experiment, conditioned to fear white rats → exhibited fear in response to other white, fluffy things

stimulus discrimination

• ability to differentiate between a conditioned stimulus and other stimuli that have not been paired with an unconditioned stimulus

• Pavlov’s Dog experiment, different sounding bells

classical conditioning examples

• fear response

• taste aversions

• a word from verywell

fear response

• Little Albert Experiment

• experiment illustrates how phobias can form through classical conditioning

a word from verywell

• techniques useful for helping people cope with phobias or anxiety problems

• eg therapists repeatedly par something that provokes anxiety with relaxation techniques in order to create an association

classical conditioning experiments

• Pavlov’s Dog

• Little Albert