Classical Conditioning

Unconditioned stimulus

A stimulus that naturally and automatically triggers a response without prior learning or conditioning.

Unconditioned response

The unlearned, naturally occurring response to an unconditioned stimulus, such as salivation in response to food.

Neutral stimulus

A stimulus that initially produces no specific response until it is associated with an unconditioned stimulus.

Conditioned stimulus

An originally neutral stimulus that, after association with an unconditioned stimulus, comes to trigger a conditioned response.

Conditioned Response

A learned response to a previously neutral stimulus that occurs after conditioning.

contiguity

The principle that for conditioning to occur, a conditioned stimulus and an unconditioned stimulus must be presented close together in time.

contingency

The relationship between a conditioned stimulus and an unconditioned stimulus, indicating that the occurrence of one predicts the other.

extinction

The gradual weakening and eventual disappearance of a conditioned response when the conditioned stimulus is no longer paired with the unconditioned stimulus.

spontaneous recovery

The reappearance of a conditioned response after a pause following extinction, suggesting that conditioning is not completely forgotten.

stimulus generalisation

The tendency for a conditioned response to occur in response to stimuli that are similar to the conditioned stimulus, leading to a broader range of responses.

stimulus discrimination

The ability to differentiate between similar stimuli, leading to a conditioned response only to the specific conditioned stimulus and not to others.

acquisition phase

The initial stage in classical conditioning where the association between a conditioned stimulus and an unconditioned stimulus is formed, leading to the establishment of a conditioned response.

performance phase

the stage in classical conditioning where the learned behavior is exhibited following conditioning and reinforcement. It involves demonstrating the conditioned response in the presence of the conditioned stimulus after successful acquisition.

habituation

The process by which an organism decreases its responses to a stimulus after repeated exposure, leading to a decrease in behavioral response without any associated reinforcement.

sensitisation

A heightened response to a stimulus following its repeated presentation, leading to an increase in behavioral response, often in the absence of reinforcement.

Biological preparedness

The innate tendency for certain species to learn associations between specific stimuli more easily than others, often related to survival. This concept suggests that some associations are biologically predisposed due to evolutionary advantages.

Aversion therapy

A behavioral treatment designed to reduce undesirable behaviors by associating them with unpleasant stimuli, often used for phobias or addiction.

Phobia

An intense, irrational fear of a specific object or situation that leads to avoidance behavior and significant distress.

Flooding

A behavioral therapy technique used to treat phobias, where the individual is exposed to the feared object or situation in a safe environment until anxiety diminishes.

Systematic Desensitisation

A behavioral therapy method that gradually exposes individuals to feared stimuli while teaching relaxation techniques, reducing anxiety over time.