Learning Psych Ch 4 pt 1

Introduction to Classical Conditioning

  • Importance of understanding basic concepts before advancing to more complex scenarios.

  • Review of basic components: Unconditioned Stimulus (US), Unconditioned Response (UR), Conditioned Stimulus (CS), and Conditioned Response (CR).

  • Overview of simple examples of classical conditioning.

Review Example: Fluffy the Cat

  • Unconditioned Stimulus (US): Food (automatically elicits response).

  • Unconditioned Response (UR): Approach behavior to food (implied).

  • Conditioned Stimulus (CS): Can opener (previously neutral, now signals food).

  • Conditioned Response (CR): Running to the kitchen at the sound of the can opener.

Review Example: Getting a Shot

  • Unconditioned Stimulus (US): Needle (it causes pain).

  • Unconditioned Response (UR): Pain response (crying).

  • Conditioned Stimulus (CS): Action involving needle (combined with pain).

  • Conditioned Response (CR): Crying at the sight of the needle.

Key Points for Identifying Components

  • US and CS should not be the same; they function differently in conditioning.

  • UR and CR do not always have to be the same; they can vary based on context.

  • Importance of careful identification in assessing classical conditioning scenarios.

Example of Taste Aversion

  • Unconditioned Stimulus: Agent causing sickness (not the food itself).

  • Conditioned Stimulus: Food that was eaten before sickness.

  • Conditioned Response: Avoidance of the food or feeling queasy at the thought of it.

  • Implications of context (e.g. chemotherapy affecting perception of food).

Factors Influencing Classical Conditioning

1. Novelty

  • Novel stimuli lead to stronger responses.

  • Pre-exposure to a CS can inhibit learning (CS pre-exposure effect).

  • Example: Rats with new tone versus familiar tone before food or shock.

2. Intensity (Salience)

  • More intense stimuli lead to stronger responses.

  • Example: Fire alarm versus a quiet warning.

  • Intensity’s role in conditioning and how animals perceive stronger versus weaker stimuli.

3. Relevance or Belongingness

  • Certain stimuli have a natural relationship (e.g., a snake as a CS for shock).

  • Experiment with monkeys demonstrated quicker fear acquisition when signals were relevant (snake vs. flower).

Higher Order Conditioning

  • Higher order conditioning allows a CS to be paired with another neutral stimulus (CS2), forming a chain of associations.

  • Example: Money is conditioned through association with positive outcomes (toys).

Sensory Preconditioning

  • Two neutral stimuli paired together; if one is later associated with an unconditioned stimulus, the other may evoke a response as well.

  • Example: Jack and Jill; if Jack is associated with a negative experience, Jill might also evoke a negative reaction due to their pre-existing association.

Conclusion

  • Classical conditioning can occur in various contexts beyond simple US-CS pairings.

  • Understanding the nuances of CS, US, UR, and CR is crucial for grasping complex conditioning scenarios.