Podcast
Questions and Answers
What are conditioned emotional responses (CER) based on?
What are conditioned emotional responses (CER) based on?
How are two stimuli associated in conditioned emotional responses (CER)?
How are two stimuli associated in conditioned emotional responses (CER)?
In Watson and Rayner's experiment, what was the neutral stimulus initially for Little Albert?
In Watson and Rayner's experiment, what was the neutral stimulus initially for Little Albert?
What measure is used to quantify the strength of a conditioned emotional response?
What measure is used to quantify the strength of a conditioned emotional response?
Signup and view all the answers
What does a higher suppression ratio indicate about conditioning?
What does a higher suppression ratio indicate about conditioning?
Signup and view all the answers
What did Watson and Rayner's experiment demonstrate about classical conditioning?
What did Watson and Rayner's experiment demonstrate about classical conditioning?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the main focus of operant conditioning?
What is the main focus of operant conditioning?
Signup and view all the answers
Which form of conditioning is primarily associated with Pavlovian (classical) conditioning?
Which form of conditioning is primarily associated with Pavlovian (classical) conditioning?
Signup and view all the answers
How does operant conditioning differ from classical conditioning?
How does operant conditioning differ from classical conditioning?
Signup and view all the answers
What practical implications do conditioned emotional responses have in therapeutic settings?
What practical implications do conditioned emotional responses have in therapeutic settings?
Signup and view all the answers
How do both operant and classical conditioning contribute to understanding behaviors and emotional responses?
How do both operant and classical conditioning contribute to understanding behaviors and emotional responses?
Signup and view all the answers
Study Notes
Conditioned Emotional Responses
Conditioned emotional responses (CER) are behaviors that are acquired through classical conditioning, where a previously neutral stimulus is linked with an emotional response evoked by another stimulus. CER involves associating two different stimuli, so that the presence of one triggers a response normally reserved for the other.
John B. Watson and Rosalie Rayner's Experiment
In 1920, Watson and Rayner conducted a groundbreaking experiment involving the conditioned emotional response. Their study focused on a nine-month-old infant named "Little Albert," who initially displayed no fear towards a white rat, which served as a neutral stimulus.
However, when the sight of the rat was consistently coupled with the loud noise of a hammer hitting a metal bar (the unconditional stimulus), Little Albert developed a fear response towards the rat, indicating that the rat had become a conditioned stimulus for fear. This experiment demonstrated the power of classical conditioning in shaping emotional responses.
Measurement of Conditioned Emotional Responses
The strength of a conditioned emotional response is often quantified using a suppression ratio, which measures the reduction in a subject's initial response to the conditional stimulus over time. A higher suppression ratio indicates stronger conditioning, while lower values suggest the response is yet to be fully conditioned.
Classical vs. Operant Conditioning
While the concept of conditioned emotional responses primarily applies to Pavlovian (classical) conditioning, it shares similarities with operant conditioning. Operant conditioning refers to the idea that behavior can be shaped by its consequences, such as rewards and punishments. Both forms of conditioning contribute to understanding how psychological processes influence emotional responses and behaviors.
Real-world Implications
Understanding conditioned emotional responses has practical applications, particularly in therapeutic settings. By recognizing the role of conditioning in fear and anxiety disorders, researchers and clinicians can develop more targeted treatments for individuals suffering from phobias or other conditions driven by maladaptive emotional responses.
Studying That Suits You
Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.
Description
Explore the concept of conditioned emotional responses (CER) through John B. Watson and Rosalie Rayner's famous experiment with 'Little Albert'. Learn about the measurement of CER using suppression ratios and the comparison between classical and operant conditioning in shaping emotional behaviors.
