Psychology Classical Conditioning

Study Notes

Learning is the process of gaining new and relatively enduring information or behaviors through experience.
We learn by association, connecting events that happen one after another.
We also learn through observation.

Classical conditioning involves creating associations between two unrelated stimuli.
It takes advantage of biological, instinctual responses.
This learning was discovered by Ivan Pavlov.
He used the bell as a neutral stimulus and the food as an unconditioned stimulus, demonstrating that animals can learn to associate a neutral stimulus (the bell) with an unconditioned stimulus (food) and then respond to the neutral stimulus itself.
Pavlov identified key components:
- Unconditioned Stimulus (UCS): A stimulus that naturally triggers a response (e.g., food).
- Unconditioned Response (UCR): The natural, unlearned reaction to a stimulus (e.g., salivation).
- Neutral Stimulus (NS): A stimulus that doesn't initially elicit a response (e.g., the bell).
- Conditioned Stimulus (CS): A stimulus that, after repeated pairing with the UCS, elicits a response (e.g., the bell).
- Conditioned Response (CR): The learned response to the CS (e.g., salivation).
Acquisition: This is the initial stage of learning; the CR has been learned when the CS is presented.
Extinction: The CR gradually weakens when the CS is presented repeatedly without the UCS.
Spontaneous Recovery: After extinction, the CS can sometimes trigger a weak CR.
Generalization: The tendency, after conditioning, to respond similarly to stimuli that resemble the CS.
Discrimination: The learned ability to differentiate between the CS and similar stimuli that don't predict the UCS.

Classical conditioning has broad implications across species, showing how animals learn to adapt to their environment.
It's a universal form of learning.

Medical Treatments: Experiencing side effects of cancer drugs can trigger feelings of nausea and vomiting.
Drug Cravings: Former drug users may crave drugs when in environments associated with drug use.
Food Cravings: Classical conditioning makes dieting challenging as foods and environments we associate with eating can trigger cravings.

Dr. John Watson, a famous psychologist, conducted this experiment, using a young boy named Albert.
He demonstrated how fear could be classically conditioned.
This experiment remains controversial due to potential ethical concerns.

Operant conditioning links voluntary behaviors with consequences.
It plays a critical role in shaping our behavior by showing us how the consequences of our actions influence our future choices.