Classical Conditioning

Classical Conditioning

Learning by associating two things that repeatedly happen together.

Unconditioned Stimulus (UCS)

Something that naturally triggers a response without learning. Example: food.

Unconditioned Response (UCR)

A natural, automatic reaction to a stimulus. Example: salivating when seeing food.

Neutral Stimulus (NS)

Something that initially does not cause the response being studied. Example: a bell before conditioning.

Conditioned Stimulus (CS)

A previously neutral stimulus that triggers a learned response. Example: a bell after conditioning.

Conditioned Response (CR)

A learned reaction to a conditioned stimulus. Example: salivating when hearing the bell.

Acquisition

The initial stage of learning an association between two stimuli.

Extinction

When a learned response weakens because the conditioned stimulus is repeatedly presented without the original stimulus.

Spontaneous Recovery

When an extinguished conditioned response returns after a break.

Generalization

Responding similarly to stimuli that resemble the original conditioned stimulus.

Discrimination

Learning to respond to a specific stimulus but not similar ones.

Higher-Order Conditioning

When an existing conditioned stimulus is used to teach an association with a new neutral stimulus.

Little Albert Experiment

An experiment by Watson and Rayner showing that fear can be learned through classical conditioning.