PSY101: Classical Conditioning and Phobias

Questions and Answers

How do advertisers use classical conditioning to sell products?

by repeatedly pairing their products with stimuli that elicit positive emotions.

How did Watson and Rayner use classical conditioning to create a fear response in the Little Albert study?

through conditioning and stimulus generalization.

What was the significance of Watson and Rayner's Little Albert study concerning the origin of fears?

It showed how phobias can be acquired through classical conditioning.

How can classical conditioning be used to treat phobias?

by pairing feared stimuli with relaxation. Signup and view all the answers

What is operant conditioning?

A type of conditioning where behavior is modified by its consequences. Signup and view all the answers

How does operant conditioning differ from classical conditioning?

Operant conditioning focuses on consequences of behavior, while classical conditioning focuses on associations between stimuli. Signup and view all the answers

What are consequences of behavior in operant conditioning?

They are the outcomes or results of an action that influence future behavior. Signup and view all the answers

What is an operant behavior?

A behavior that is modified by its consequences. Signup and view all the answers

What is the law of effect?

The idea that behaviors that are followed by a satisfying consequence will be strengthened, while behaviors followed by an unsatisfying consequence will be weakened. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Classical Conditioning in Advertising

Advertisers use classical conditioning to sell products by repeatedly pairing their products with stimuli that elicit positive emotions.

Little Albert Study

Watson and Rayner used classical conditioning to create a fear response in Little Albert by associating a neutral stimulus (e.g. a white rat) with an unconditioned stimulus (e.g. a loud noise) that naturally elicited a fear response.
The conditioned stimulus in the Little Albert study was the neutral stimulus (e.g. the white rat).
The unconditioned stimulus in the Little Albert study was the loud noise.

Origin of Fears

The Little Albert study demonstrated that fears can be acquired through classical conditioning and stimulus generalization.

Treating Phobias

Classical conditioning can be used to treat phobias by pairing feared stimuli with relaxation.

Operant Conditioning

Operant conditioning is a type of learning in which behavior is modified by its consequences, such as rewards or punishments.
E.L. Thorndike played a key role in establishing operant conditioning.

Comparison of Operant and Classical Conditioning

Operant conditioning differs from classical conditioning in that it involves the association of behavior with its consequences, rather than the association of stimuli with responses.

Consequences of Behavior

The consequences of an action, such as rewards or punishments, play a crucial role in operant conditioning by influencing the likelihood of the behavior occurring in the future.
In contrast to classical conditioning, the consequences of behavior are the primary factor in operant conditioning.

Operant Behavior

An operant behavior is a voluntary action that is influenced by its consequences.
Operant behavior differs from a conditioned response in that it is not a automatic response to a stimulus.
The term "operant" is applied to this behavior because it operates on the environment to produce a consequence.

Law of Effect

The law of effect states that behaviors that are followed by a satisfying consequence will be strengthened, while behaviors that are followed by an unsatisfying consequence will be weakened.