Psychology Classical Conditioning Flashcards

Study Notes

Classical Conditioning Overview

Classical conditioning involves learning to associate a previously neutral stimulus (CS) with an unconditioned stimulus (UCS) that elicits an unconditioned response (UCR).
A learning process where one stimulus signals the arrival of another, establishing a connection between the two.

Key Terminology

Stimulus: Any perceptible entity (sight, sound, smell, etc.) that can evoke a response.
Pavlovian Conditioning: Another term for classical conditioning, named after the researcher Ivan Pavlov who systematically studied this learning form.
Reflex: An automatic response (UR) to a stimulus (UCS).
Four Elements of Classical Conditioning: Include UCS, UCR, CS, and CR.
Neutral Stimulus: A stimulus that initially does not produce the target response.

Definitions of Responses

Unconditioned Response (UCR): The natural response elicited by an unconditioned stimulus.
Unconditioned Stimulus (UCS): The stimulus that naturally triggers the unconditioned response.
Conditioned Stimulus (CS): A previously neutral stimulus that begins to elicit a response after pairing with an unconditioned stimulus.
Conditioned Response (CR): A learned response to the conditioned stimulus, typically similar to the unconditioned response.

Pavlov's Research

Pavlov's experiments with dogs demonstrated how a neutral stimulus (tone) paired with UCS (food) could condition a response (salivation).
Conditioning occurs when the CS is repeatedly presented before the UCS, establishing a predictive relationship.

Timing in Conditioning

"Just Before" Presentation: The CS should come shortly before the UCS, ideally within half a second to one second, for effective conditioning.
Backward and Simultaneous Conditioning: Presenting UCS before CS or at the same time usually results in poor conditioning, as the CS does not predict the UCS effectively.

Special Cases

Taste Aversion: An example of classical conditioning achieved without close temporal pairing and often after just a few trials.

Presentation Methods

Delayed Conditioning: The CS is presented before and remains until after the UCS, leading to simultaneous occurrence.
Trace Conditioning: The CS precedes the UCS but is removed prior to UCS presentation, creating a gap where neither stimulus is present.

Memory Trace Requirement

For associations between stimuli to be learned, an organism must maintain a "memory trace" of the CS to link it with the later-occurring UCS for effective conditioning.

Description

Explore the concept of classical conditioning through these informative flashcards. Understand how stimuli influence learning processes and the development of new responses related to behavioral psychology.