Conditioning

Classical Conditioning

A previously neutral stimulus comes to elicit a response after being repeatedly paired with a stimulus that naturally elicits a response - Pavlov's dogs

Operant conditioning

Behaviours are modified by the consequences that follow them - strengthened or weakened based on the rewards/ punishments they produce

What is the clinical relevance of classical conditioning?

• Helps explain now phobias and certain anxiety disorders form

• A neutral event becomes associated with fear or distress

• Association, extinction and stimulus generalisation remain central to therapeutic interventions

What is the clinical relevance of operant conditioning?

• Principles are employed in behaviour modification therapies to encourage adaptive behaviours and reduce maladaptive ones

• Token economies, contingency management and systematic behaviour modification programs rooted in operant conditioning

• Successfully treat conditions such as ADHD, anxiety and substance abuse disorders

US

Unconditioned stimulus: stimulus that naturally elicits a response

UR

Unconditioned response: reflexive, natural response to the US (unconditioned stimulus)

CS

Conditioned stimulus: previously neutral stimulus that, after repeated pairings with the US ( unconditioned stimulus ) comes to elicit the same response on its own

CR

Conditioned response: learned response to the previously neutral stimulus (now the CS)

Acquisition

The phase in which the neutral stimulus is repeatedly paired with the US until the CR is established

Extinction

The gradual reduction of a behaviour when it is no longer enforced

Stimulus generalisation

Stimuli similar to the CS may also elicit the CR

Positive reinforcement

Adding a pleasant stimulus following a behaviour - increase likelihood of it occurring again

Negative reinforcement

Removing an unpleasant stimulus following a behaviour -increase likelihood of it occurring again

Positive punishment

Introducing an unpleasant stimulus following a behaviour - decrease likelihood of it occurring again

Negative punishment

Removing a desirable stimulus following a behaviour - decrease likelihood of it occurring again

Schedules of reinforcement

Patterns that determine how and when reinforcement is delivered (e.g.. Continuous vs. Intermittent )

What experiment is Skinner famous for?

Skinner's box - an animal placed in a controlled environment with a lever- when used, would be rewarded with a food pellet

What experiment is Pavlov famous for?

Pavlov's dogs- how dogs salivated in response to food - paired ringing of a bell with the delivery of food-dogs began to salivate at the sound of bell