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Questions and Answers
What are the four procedures that demonstrate that conditioning doesn't automatically occur simply because a neutral stimulus (NS) and an unconditioned stimulus (US) have been paired?
What are the four procedures that demonstrate that conditioning doesn't automatically occur simply because a neutral stimulus (NS) and an unconditioned stimulus (US) have been paired?
Overshadowing, Blocking, Occasion Setting, Latent Inhibition
Which two processes involve the presentation of a compound stimulus?
Which two processes involve the presentation of a compound stimulus?
Define a compound stimulus.
Define a compound stimulus.
A compound stimulus consists of the simultaneous presentation of two or more individual stimuli.
What occurs in overshadowing? Give an example.
What occurs in overshadowing? Give an example.
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Explain an experimental example of overshadowing.
Explain an experimental example of overshadowing.
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Give a real-world application of overshadowing.
Give a real-world application of overshadowing.
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What does the phenomenon of overshadowing demonstrate? What other phenomenon demonstrates this more clearly?
What does the phenomenon of overshadowing demonstrate? What other phenomenon demonstrates this more clearly?
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What is the difference between blocking and overshadowing?
What is the difference between blocking and overshadowing?
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Define blocking.
Define blocking.
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Give an experimental example of blocking.
Give an experimental example of blocking.
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What is a real-life example of the blocking effect?
What is a real-life example of the blocking effect?
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Study Notes
Specificity in Classical Conditioning
- Conditioning does not automatically arise from pairing a neutral stimulus (NS) and an unconditioned stimulus (US); it often occurs with specific stimuli or conditions.
- Four key procedures illustrating this are overshadowing, blocking, occasion setting, and latent inhibition.
Compound Stimulus
- A compound stimulus involves the simultaneous presentation of two or more stimuli, such as a sound and a light.
Overshadowing
- In overshadowing, the more noticeable stimulus (more salient) in a compound stimulus is more readily conditioned as a conditioned stimulus (CS), which hampers conditioning of the less salient stimulus.
- Example: When exposed to a wasp, a person may develop a fear response primarily to the most distinctive feature of the wasp, overshadowing other stimuli.
Experimental Example of Overshadowing
- An experiment pairs a bright light with a faint metronome alongside food, leading to conditioned salivation.
- On testing each separately, only the bright light elicits a strong salivation response, while the faint metronome elicits little or no response, demonstrating overshadowing due to the presence of the more salient light.
Real-World Application of Overshadowing
- Managers utilize the overshadowing effect by having an assistant announce unpopular decisions, as employees may direct their dislike towards the assistant, despite the manager being primarily responsible.
Significance of Overshadowing
- Overshadowing indicates that simple pairings of NS and US are not sufficient for conditioning to occur; this is similarly shown through the phenomenon of blocking.
Difference Between Blocking and Overshadowing
- Blocking involves the interference caused by an established CS which limits conditioning of a new CS, as opposed to overshadowing, which deals with two neutral stimuli differing in salience.
Definition of Blocking
- Blocking occurs when an established CS prevents the conditioning of a new CS due to its prior association with the US.
Experimental Example of Blocking
- Initially conditioning a light as a CS for salivation, followed by pairing it with a metronome. The presence of the light inhibits the metronome's ability to condition, as the light already predicts the food.
Real-Life Example of Blocking
- In a workplace scenario, delivering an unpopular announcement jointly with an already disliked manager ensures that the negative response is attributed to the disliked individual rather than the speaker.
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Description
Dive into Chapter 4 of psychology with these flashcards that explore specificity in classical conditioning. Learn about key concepts such as overshadowing, blocking, occasion setting, and latent inhibition, which highlight the intricate processes involved in conditioning. Test your understanding with these engaging flashcards.