Classical Conditioning Concepts

Classical Conditioning

• Definitions

  • Unconditioned Stimulus (UCS): A stimulus that naturally triggers a response (e.g., meat).
  • Unconditioned Response (UCR): The natural, unlearned response to the UCS (e.g., salivation).
  • Conditioned Stimulus (CS): A previously neutral stimulus that, through learning, triggers a response (e.g., tone).
  • Conditioned Response (CR): A learned response to a CS (e.g., salivation).

• Ivan Pavlov: Nobel Prize winner, studied digestion and discovered classical conditioning.

• Classical Conditioning and Phobias

  • UCS: Dog bites you
  • UCR: Fear
  • CS: All dogs
  • CR: Fear of all dogs
  • Solution: Repeated pairings of CS in favorable circumstances.

Classical Conditioning: Terminology

• Stimulus contiguity: Stimuli occurring together in time and space.
• Types of Conditioning
  • Simultaneous
  • Short-delayed
  • Trace

Basic Processes in Classical Conditioning

• Acquisition: The initial learning or acquiring of a behavior that happens most quickly if the stimulus is unusual, intense, or novel.
• Extinction: The gradual weakening and disappearance of a conditioned response (CR) in the absence of the conditioned stimulus (CS).
• Spontaneous Recovery: The reappearance of a CR after its apparent extinction. It may be weaker and shorter-lived.

Basic Processes of Classical Conditioning

• Stimulus Generalization: Responding to stimuli that are similar to the original conditioned stimulus (CS). e.g. A fear response to various dog types, not just the original dog.
• Stimulus Discrimination: Responding only to the original CS, not to similar stimuli. e.g. Responding only to a specific tone, not higher or lower pitch tones
• Higher-Order Conditioning: A conditioned stimulus (CS) becomes associated with a new neutral stimulus. e.g. A previously neutral treatment room associated with chemotherapy triggering nausea.

Operant Conditioning

• Law of Effect (Thorndike): Responses followed by satisfying outcomes are strengthened; those followed by unpleasant outcomes are weakened.
• Instrumental Learning (Thorndike): Learning where responses are controlled by consequences.
• Operant Conditioning (Skinner): Learning where behavior is strengthened or weakened by the consequences that follow.
• Shaping: Reinforcing successive approximations of a desired response until the desired response is achieved.
• Types of Consequences
  • Positive Reinforcement: Presenting a desirable stimulus to increase a behavior. e.g. Giving a treat to a dog for sitting.
  • Negative Reinforcement: Removing an undesirable stimulus to increase a behaviour e.g Taking away chores if a student gets good grades.
  • Punishment: Decreasing a behaviour by presenting an undesirable stimulus or removing a desirable stimulus e.g Giving extra homework.

Operant Conditioning

• Continuous Reinforcement: Reinforcing a behavior every time it occurs.
• Intermittent Reinforcement: Reinforcing a behavior some of the time, leading to more resistant behaviours.
• Schedules of Reinforcement:
  • Ratio: Depends on the number of responses
  • Interval: Depends on time
  • Fixed: Predictable schedule
  • Variable: Unpredictable schedule.

Changes in Our Understanding of Conditioning

• Biological Constraints: Innate tendencies that may limit an animal's ability to learn a new behaviour.
• Instinctive Drift: The tendency for an animal to revert to instinctive behaviours and interfere with learned behaviours.
• Taste Aversion: A strong dislike for a particular taste after an instance of nausea.
• Preparedness: Organisms are biologically prepared to learn some associations more easily than others. e.g. Fear of snakes.

Observational Learning

• Observational Learning: Learning by observing others' behavior.
• Vicarious Conditioning: Learning by observing another organism's conditioning.
• Mirror Neurons: Neurons activated when performing or observing an action. Helpful for understanding others' actions and emotional expression.

This quiz explores the fundamental concepts of classical conditioning, including important terms such as unconditioned stimulus, conditioned stimulus, and their associated responses. It also highlights Ivan Pavlov's contributions to the field and how classical conditioning relates to phobias. Test your understanding of these key psychological principles!