Classical Conditioning

Classical Conditioning – A type of learning where an organism learns to associate two stimuli and anticipate events.

Ivan Pavlov – A psychologist known for discovering classical conditioning through experiments with dogs.

Unconditioned Stimulus (UCS) – A stimulus that naturally triggers a response without prior learning (e.g., food causing salivation).

Unconditioned Response (UCR) – The automatic, natural reaction to the unconditioned stimulus (e.g., salivation to food).

Neutral Stimulus (NS) – A stimulus that initially produces no specific response (e.g., a bell before conditioning).

Conditioned Stimulus (CS) – A previously neutral stimulus that, after association with the UCS, triggers a conditioned response (e.g., the bell after conditioning).

Conditioned Response (CR) – The learned response to the conditioned stimulus (e.g., salivation to the bell).

Extensions of Conditioning

Acquisition – The initial stage of learning when the NS is paired with the UCS to produce the CR.

Extinction – The diminishing of a conditioned response when the UCS is no longer paired with the CS.

Spontaneous Recovery – The reappearance of a previously extinguished conditioned response after a pause.

Generalization – The tendency to respond similarly to stimuli that resemble the conditioned stimulus.

Discrimination – The ability to distinguish between the conditioned stimulus and other irrelevant stimuli.

Higher-Order Conditioning – A process where a conditioned stimulus is paired with a new neutral stimulus, creating a second (weaker) conditioned stimulus.

Cognitive Processes of Classical Conditioning – The understanding that mental processes, like awareness and predictability, can influence conditioning. (human for example)

Biological Predispositions of Classical Conditioning – The idea that some associations are easier to learn due to evolutionary adaptations.