Psychology B-03 Flashcards Part 1

Respondent Conditioning

• Respondent conditioning involves pairing a neutral stimulus with an unconditioned stimulus to elicit a learned response.
• It is also known as Pavlovian conditioning, where a neutral stimulus becomes a conditioned stimulus.
• The unconditioned stimulus elicits an unconditioned response without prior conditioning.

Types of Stimuli

• An unconditioned stimulus (US) is defined as a stimulus that elicits a response naturally and automatically.
• A neutral stimulus (NS) does not elicit any response prior to conditioning.
• A conditioned stimulus (CS) is a previously neutral stimulus that, after being associated with an unconditioned stimulus, begins to trigger a conditioned response.

Respondent Behavior

• Respondent behavior includes reactions that are involuntary and triggered by specific stimuli, like blushing or increases in heart rate.
• Examples of respondent behavior include:
  • Blushing
  • Increased heart rate
  • Digesting food

Reflexive Responses

• An unconditioned response (UR) is an automatic response to an unconditioned stimulus.
• Reflex actions, such as jerking your hand away from a hot surface, are considered unconditioned responses.
• Reflexes involve a response and its controlling stimulus.

Characteristics of Respondent Behavior

• Respondent behavior can operate under the control of antecedent stimuli.
• It can sometimes be influenced by operant conditioning but is not easily shaped in the same way.
• Functions of respondent behavior are largely innate and instinctual.

Examples & Scenarios

• A scenario illustrating respondent conditioning might involve an individual developing a fear response (increased heart rate, sweating) after a previous negative experience, such as being chased by a dog.
• Responses like crying due to frustration can have both operant and respondent characteristics, as they include learned and instinctive elements.

Unconditioned Stimuli

• Examples of unconditioned stimuli include:
  • Hot coffee on the tongue
  • The aroma of food
  • Bright lights in the eye
• These stimuli elicit unconditioned responses naturally and without prior learning.

Summary of Reflex

• A reflex is characterized as a response connected to a specific controlling stimulus, showcasing the relationship between a stimulus and the behavior it produces.

Neutral to Conditioned

• Transitioning a neutral stimulus into a conditioned stimulus requires pairing it with either an unconditioned stimulus or another conditioned stimulus.