Module 16: Classical Conditioning Flashcards

Classical Conditioning Overview

• Classical Conditioning is a learning process where a stimulus gains the ability to provoke a response through association.
• It involves making an old response to a previously neutral stimulus, creating a learned response.

Key Concepts in Classical Conditioning

• Unconditioned Stimulus (US): A stimulus that automatically triggers a reflexive response.
• Unconditioned Response (UR): The automatic reaction to the unconditioned stimulus without prior learning.
• Conditioned Stimulus (CS): A previously neutral stimulus that becomes associated with an unconditioned stimulus to elicit a response.
• Conditioned Response (CR): The learned response to the conditioned stimulus, typically mirroring the unconditioned response.

Learning Processes

• Acquisition: The process of developing a learned response to a previously neutral stimulus.
• Extinction: The diminishing of a conditioned response when the conditioned stimulus is repeatedly presented without the unconditioned stimulus.
• Spontaneous Recovery: The re-emergence of a previously extinguished behavior after a period of rest.

Conditioning Principles

• Conditioned stimuli should be paired with unconditioned stimuli for effective conditioning, preferably just before the unconditioned stimulus occurs.
• The strength of the conditioned response increases with repeated pairings.

Generalization and Discrimination

• Generalization: Responding similarly to two similar stimuli due to shared characteristics (e.g., fear of all dogs after being barked at by one).
• Discrimination: The ability to differentiate between two stimuli and respond differently, recognizing that one predicts a response while the other does not.

Key Figures in Classical Conditioning

• Ivan Pavlov: Russian physiologist who discovered classical conditioning through experiments with dogs, food, and saliva.
• John Watson: Founder of Behaviorism, conducted the "Baby Albert" study demonstrating emotional conditioning.
• Robert Rescorla: Developed a theory highlighting the role of cognition in classical conditioning and the importance of reliable predictor cues.
• John Garcia: Known for creating the concept of taste aversions, where specific tastes are avoided due to being associated with negative experiences.

Applications of Classical Conditioning

• Emotional conditioning is utilized in advertising to evoke particular feelings tied to products.
• Conditioned emotional states can enhance social relationships through shared experiences tied to specific stimuli like music or locations.
• Negative emotions can also be conditioned, impacting responses to environments like healthcare spaces or educational institutions.

Behaviorism

• A psychological theory advocating for the study of observable behaviors rather than inner mental processes, emphasizing visual learning.