4. Applications of Pavlovian Learning

Who was the first investigator to use Classical Conditioning to study emotion?

John Watson

What experiment did John Watson conduct to study conditioned emotional responses?

The 'Little Albert' experiment, where he created a phobia in the laboratory.

What ethical concerns arose from the 'Little Albert' experiment?

Concerns about the ethics of creating a phobia in a child and the long-term effects on Little Albert.

What technique did Mary Cover Jones use to reverse fear responses?

Counterconditioning procedures.

What is systematic desensitization?

A form of counterconditioning where a patient imagines progressively troubling scenes while relaxed.

What are the three steps involved in systematic desensitization?

1. Train Relaxation 2. Establish a Fear Hierarchy 3. Exposure therapy.

What is in vivo exposure therapy?

A treatment involving incremental exposures to the feared object or situation.

What is Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy (VRET)?

A form of exposure therapy that uses technology to create simulated scenes associated with the fear.

How effective was VRET and vivo exposure therapy in treating fear of flying?

After treatment, more participants who received VRET or in vivo therapy flew compared to controls.

How can Pavlovian procedures be used to produce bias?

By associating negative or positive images/words with certain groups, leading to prejudice.

What did Yang et al. (2014) find regarding video games and aggression?

Playing a violent video game as a male avatar led to more aggressive behavior than playing as a female avatar.

What is implicit evaluative conditioning?

A process similar to counterconditioning that conditions an opposing response to bias.

What defines a paraphilia?

A diagnosable psychiatric disorder involving intense sexual arousal to atypical objects or situations.

What are common treatments for paraphilias?

Physical and chemical castration, though they may be unethical and ineffective.

How might paraphilias be conditioned early in life?

Through experiences that pair the paraphilic stimulus with intense sexual arousal.

What is aversion therapy?

A form of counterconditioning where the object of sexual arousal is paired with an unpleasant stimulus.

How effective is aversion therapy alone for treating paraphilias?

It is not very effective in the long-term.

What did Hanson et al. (2002) find regarding Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for sex offenders?

CBT reduced sexual offense recidivism rates compared to control groups.

What is the recidivism rate for treatment groups compared to comparison groups in Hanson et al.'s study?

9.9% for treatment groups vs. 17.4% for comparison groups.

What is conditioned taste aversion?

An association formed between a taste and illness, leading to avoidance of that taste.

How does Garcia's work on taste aversion differ from traditional conditioning?

The conditioned stimulus (CS) and unconditioned stimulus (US) occur together only once, and the time between them can be delayed by 30 minutes.

What does 'preparedness' refer to in Pavlovian learning?

The concept that organisms are biologically prepared to learn certain associations, with some CSs being more effective for illness and others for pain.

How is conditioned taste aversion applied in livestock management?

It is used to teach animals to avoid toxic plants, such as horses avoiding locoweed and sheep avoiding grapevines.

What role does conditioned emotional response play in advertising?

Conditioning is used to create positive associations with products, such as linking a beer with good times or a fragrance with attractiveness.

What evidence supports the impact of conditioning on brand preference?

Studies show people prefer products associated with positive images or familiar experiences, such as peanut butter from a branded jar.

What is the significance of simultaneous conditioning in advertising?

It involves pairing a product with a positive stimulus, such as a celebrity endorsement, to enhance brand appeal.

What medical applications have emerged from Pavlovian learning?

Applications include hearing tests for newborns, conditioned eyeblink tests, and peanut desensitization therapy.

What was Robert Ader's experiment with rats about?

He demonstrated that rats developed a conditioned taste aversion to sweet water after being injected with an immunosuppressive drug.

What are conditioned immune responses?

Responses that arise from conditioning, which may aid in treating autoimmune diseases and cancer, and could explain the placebo effect.

How did Siegel's experiments relate to drug addiction?

They showed that substance use is influenced by Pavlovian processes, including conditioned compensatory responding.

What is the relationship between drug withdrawal and conditioning?

Withdrawal symptoms can be more pronounced in individuals conditioned to associate drug use with specific cues.

What pharmacological treatments for substance use disorders rely on classical conditioning?

Treatments include opioid antagonists like Suboxone, agonists like Methadone, and aversion therapies like Antabuse.

What is the function of an opioid agonist?

It binds to opioid receptors to produce effects similar to the drug of abuse.

What does Antabuse (Disulfiram) do?

It blocks the breakdown of alcohol, causing sickness if alcohol is consumed while taking the medication.

What is exposure therapy in the context of Pavlovian learning?

A therapeutic approach that involves exposing individuals to their conditioned stimuli to reduce aversive responses.

What is the main conclusion regarding classical conditioning procedures?

They have numerous applications, especially in manipulating innate or reflexive responses.

What is the next topic to be covered after Pavlovian learning?

Operant learning.