Classical_Conditioning

Introduction to Classical Conditioning

• In this lecture, we explore classical conditioning, a foundational concept in psychology.

• The historical context of who discovered classical conditioning is mentioned, but we'll focus on the procedural details.

Key Terminology

• Unconditioned Stimulus (US): A stimulus that naturally elicits a response without prior learning.

  • Example: Food is an unconditioned stimulus that elicits salivation.

• Unconditioned Response (UR): The automatic response to the unconditioned stimulus.

  • Example: Salivation is a reflexive response to food.

• Neutral Stimulus (NS): A stimulus that does not elicit any response in the absence of conditioning.

  • Example: A metronome initially does not elicit a response from a dog.

• Conditioned Stimulus (CS): After conditioning, a neutral stimulus that now elicits a response.

• Conditioned Response (CR): The learned response to the conditioned stimulus.

The Classical Conditioning Procedure

• Pairing Process:

  • A neutral stimulus (NS) is repeatedly paired with an unconditioned stimulus (US).

  • For example, a metronome (NS) followed by food (US) leads to salivation (UR).

• Over repeated pairings (10-15 times), the neutral stimulus becomes a conditioned stimulus (CS).

• The original unconditioned response (UR) to food transforms into a conditioned response (CR) to the metronome.

Important Distinctions

• The salivation to the food (UR) is reflexive and automatic, whereas salivation to the metronome (CR) is learned.

• The response to the CS (metronome) is not the same as the response to the US (food), even though both are salivation.

Example of Conditioning with Onions and Music

• Scenario: Tearing up while cutting onions while listening to music.

  • Unconditioned Stimulus (US): Onion (or its scent).

  • Unconditioned Response (UR): Tearing up (reflexive response).

• Conditioned Stimulus (CS): The song played frequently while preparing meals.

• Conditioned Response (CR): Tearing up when hearing the song, showing learned response.

• Important distinction: The unconditioned response (tearing up from onions) is not identical to the conditioned response (tearing up from music).

Conditioned Responses vs. Unconditioned Responses

• Conditioned responses are generally weaker and not as intense as unconditioned responses.

• For example, salivation from the conditioned stimulus is less intense than from the unconditioned stimulus.

• Variation in Intensity:

  • Conditioned responses can differ significantly from unconditioned responses, even turning into opposites.

  • Example: Jan, who was bitten by a spider (US causing pain as UR), developed a fear response (CR) towards spiders without experiencing pain, demonstrating avoidance behavior.

• Key Point: The conditioned response may not only be different in intensity but can also change the nature of the response entirely.

Introduction to Classical Conditioning

In this lecture, we delve deeper into classical conditioning, a fundamental concept in behavioral psychology that illustrates how certain stimuli can be associated with responses through conditioning techniques. This exploration will enhance your understanding of how behaviors can be learned and modified.

Historical Context

Classical conditioning was first described by Ivan Pavlov, a Russian physiologist, in his experiments with dogs. Although we will briefly mention the historical background, our primary focus will be on the detailed procedural aspects of classical conditioning.

Key Terminology

• Unconditioned Stimulus (US): A stimulus that naturally and automatically triggers a response without the need for prior learning.Example: Food serves as an unconditioned stimulus as it inherently produces salivation in dogs.

• Unconditioned Response (UR): The innate, reflexive response that occurs when the unconditioned stimulus is presented.Example: Salivation is the unconditioned response that is reflexively triggered when food is placed in the mouth.

• Neutral Stimulus (NS): A stimulus that does not elicit any response prior to conditioning.Example: A metronome, when introduced to the dog, initially has no effect on the dog's behavior.

• Conditioned Stimulus (CS): After the pairing with an unconditioned stimulus, this neutral stimulus begins to elicit a response on its own.Example: Following repeated presentations with food, the metronome becomes a conditioned stimulus that now triggers salivation.

• Conditioned Response (CR): The learned response that is elicited by the conditioned stimulus subsequent to conditioning.Example: The salivation produced in response to the metronome alone after conditioning represents the conditioned response.

The Classical Conditioning Procedure

Pairing Process:

The classical conditioning process involves a systematic pairing of a neutral stimulus (NS) with an unconditioned stimulus (US), leading to the establishment of associations.

• During initial trials, the NS is presented just before the US. For instance, a metronome (NS) might be followed by the presentation of food (US), which elicits salivation (UR).

• After numerous pairings, typically between 10-15 repetitions, the dog starts to associate the metronome with the food, and therefore, salivation becomes a conditioned response to the metronome (CS).

Important Distinctions

The distinction between unconditioned and conditioned responses is significant:

• The response to the unconditioned stimulus (e.g., salivating from food) is an automatic, reflexive process, whereas the conditioned response (e.g., salivating at the sound of the metronome) represents a learned behavior, which could differ in strength and nature.

Example of Conditioning with Onions and Music

In another practical scenario:

• Scenario: A person begins tearing up while cutting onions, accompanied by a song.

• Unconditioned Stimulus (US): The onion itself or its scent, which naturally causes tearing.

• Unconditioned Response (UR): The act of tearing up, which occurs reflexively upon exposure to the onion.

• Conditioned Stimulus (CS): A specific song played frequently during meal preparation, creating an association with the act of cutting onions.

• Conditioned Response (CR): Subsequently, hearing that song might trigger tearing up, signifying a learned response that associates the song with the reflexive reaction of cutting onions.

Important Distinction

While the unconditioned response (tearing from onions) is a true reflex, the conditioned response (tearing from the song) represents a learned association, highlighting how emotional and physical responses can be interconnected.

Conditioned Responses vs. Unconditioned Responses

Conditioned responses often demonstrate distinct characteristics:

• Intensity: Generally, CRs are weaker than their UR counterparts. For example, salivation triggered by a CS may not be as intense as that from a US.

Variation in Intensity:

• In some cases, conditioned responses can be paradoxically opposite to unconditioned responses.

• Example: Jan experiences pain (UR) after being bitten by a spider (US); however, she develops a fear of spiders that manifests as avoidance behavior without a direct pain experience. This exemplifies how conditioned responses may differ significantly in nature and intensity from the unconditioned responses that initiated the learning process.

Key Point:

A conditioned response can not only differ in intensity compared to its unconditioned counterpart but may also alter the fundamental nature of the response itself, leading to complex behavioral modifications.