Psychology Chapter 7 Flashcards

Questions and Answers

Of what did Pavlov think that classical conditioning consist?

Pavlov thought that classical conditioning consists of associations between a neutral stimulus and an unconditioned stimulus that leads to a conditioned response.

What is classical conditioning?

A learning process that occurs when two stimuli are repeatedly paired.

Describe the process of extinction in classical conditioning.

Extinction occurs when the conditioned stimulus is applied repeatedly without being paired with the unconditioned stimulus.

Give an example of classical conditioning.

When a child sees a parent come home wearing a baseball cap and associates it with going to the park. Signup and view all the answers

What is spontaneous recovery?

The reappearance of a learned response after extinction has occurred. Signup and view all the answers

Give an example of higher-order conditioning.

Dogs salivating when they hear a bell and see a random object introduced simultaneously. Signup and view all the answers

What is a limitation of higher-order conditioning?

We can only go to third-order conditioning because after that extinction sets in. Signup and view all the answers

Define high order conditioning.

High order conditioning occurs without an unconditioned stimulus and is difficult to go beyond third order conditioning. Signup and view all the answers

Give an example of stimulus generalization in classical conditioning.

A dog conditioned to salivate to a tone of a particular pitch will also salivate to tones of higher and lower pitch. Signup and view all the answers

In classical conditioning, what is stimulus generalization?

Stimulus generalization occurs when a stimulus similar to an already-conditioned stimulus produces the same response. Signup and view all the answers

What is the best CS-US timing relationship for establishing classical conditioning?

The conditioned stimulus (CS) occurs before the unconditioned stimulus (US). Signup and view all the answers

What is the renewal effect?

The sudden reemergence of a conditioned response following extinction when returned to the original environment. Signup and view all the answers

Describe the classical conditioning finding of overshadowing.

A decrease in conditioning with one conditioned stimulus due to the presence of another stronger conditioned stimulus. Signup and view all the answers

Give an example of blocking.

An experimental design where blocks are arranged in groups of similar units. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Classical Conditioning Overview

Classical conditioning involves associating a neutral stimulus with an unconditioned stimulus, leading to a conditioned response.
A neutral stimulus initially elicits no response; Pavlov used a bell as an example.
An unconditioned stimulus automatically triggers a response without prior learning, exemplified by food causing dogs to salivate.
The conditioned response is the learned reaction to the conditioned stimulus, such as salivation in response to the bell.

Definitions and Key Processes

Classical Conditioning: It is a learning process where two stimuli are repeatedly paired, resulting in a response originally elicited by one stimulus being triggered by the other alone.
Extinction: This occurs when the conditioned stimulus is presented alone repeatedly, leading to a gradual decrease in the conditioned response until it stops altogether.
Spontaneous Recovery: The phenomenon where a previously extinguished learned response reemerges after a period of no exposure to the conditioned stimulus.

Examples and Concepts

Example of Classical Conditioning: A child associates a parent's baseball cap with trips to the park, showing learned behavior through association.
Higher-Order Conditioning: This involves adding a new neutral stimulus that also evokes the conditioned response when paired with the initial conditioned stimulus.
Limitation of Higher-Order Conditioning: Conditioning is limited to three orders before extinction occurs.

Stimulus Generalization and Discrimination

Stimulus Generalization: The tendency to respond similarly to stimuli that are similar to the original conditioned stimulus; e.g., a dog salivating to tones of varying pitches.
Stimulus Discrimination: The learned ability to distinguish between the conditioned stimulus and other similar stimuli, leading to specific responses.

Conditioning Timing and Context

Best CS-US Timing: Effective classical conditioning occurs when the conditioned stimulus is presented before the unconditioned stimulus and can overlap.
Renewal Effect: The reappearance of a conditioned response when an organism returns to the context where the initial conditioning occurred after extinction.

Other Classical Conditioning Phenomena

Overshadowing: A reduction in conditioning effectiveness for a weaker stimulus when presented simultaneously with a stronger stimulus.
Blocking: A situation where a previously conditioned stimulus interferes with the conditioning of a new stimulus when both are presented together.

Contextual Influence

Emphasizes the role of the environment in how conditioned responses are acquired and maintained, highlighting the importance of context in learning processes.

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Description

Explore the fundamentals of classical conditioning in this quiz based on Chapter 7. Learn about Pavlov's experiments, including the concepts of neutral and unconditioned stimuli. Test your understanding of how these elements interact to produce conditioned responses.