Classical Conditioning Overview

Questions and Answers

What is classical conditioning?

A learning process that occurs when two stimuli are repeatedly paired; a response that is at first elicited by the second stimulus is eventually elicited by the first stimulus alone.

What does compound conditioning involve?

Two or more conditioned stimuli presented together with the unconditioned stimulus.

What is overshadowing in the context of conditioning?

The phenomenon where the most salient member of a compound stimulus is more readily conditioned and interferes with the conditioning of the weaker member.

What is blocking in conditioning?

<p>A process whereby prior conditioning prevents conditioning to a second stimulus even when both are presented simultaneously.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is latent inhibition?

<p>The difficulty in establishing classical conditioning to a conditioned stimulus we have repeatedly experienced alone.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Classical Conditioning

Learning process where two stimuli are paired repeatedly.
A conditioned response (CR) becomes elicited by a conditioned stimulus (CS) that was initially neutral, through association with an unconditioned stimulus (US).

Compound Conditioning

Involves presenting two or more conditioned stimuli together with an unconditioned stimulus.
Results in the subject responding to both stimuli, but the overall response is less intense than if trained with only one stimulus.

Overshadowing

Occurs when a more salient or stronger stimulus in a compound condition overshadows the weaker stimulus.
The stronger stimulus is more likely to be conditioned as a CS, reducing the conditioning of the weaker stimulus.
Example: A strong light paired with a weak tone leads to a greater conditioned response to the light than to the tone.

Blocking

Describes the situation where prior conditioning to one stimulus inhibits the conditioning of a second stimulus.
Even when both stimuli are presented together, the previously conditioned stimulus interferes with the new association.

Latent Inhibition

Refers to the phenomenon where previous exposure to a conditioned stimulus without an unconditioned stimulus makes it harder to establish a new association.
Example: If a tone is presented multiple times without an unconditioned stimulus, it becomes more difficult to later associate that tone with an unconditioned stimulus.

Description

Explore key concepts of classical conditioning, including definitions and examples of terms like compound conditioning. This quiz provides insights into how learning processes operate through stimulus pairing. Enhance your understanding of foundational behavioral psychology concepts.