Module 18 Classical Conditioning

Howard Giang

1. Pavlovs Experiments a. Pavolovs work began with the study of digestive systems in animals b. Dogs began to salivate when given stimuli associated with food c. He called these stimuli psychic secretions i. Aquistion 1. Timing was a factor for Pavloc 2. Conditioning seldom occurs when the CS follows the US. 3. Classical Conditioning is biologically adaptive ii. Extinction and Spontaneous Recovery 1. When a CS occurs without the presence of a US, the level of stimulation decreases over time 2. Waiting several hours will allow the stimulation to occur spontaneously suggesting that extinction suppresses the CR rather than eliminating it iii. Generalization 1. Generalization is the tendency to respond to stimuli similar to the CS 2. Generalization can be adaptive 3. Because of generalization, stimuli that are similar to naturally disgusting or appealing objects will, by association, evoke some disgust or liking iv. Discrimination 1. The learned ability to distinguish between a conditioned stimulus and other irrelevant stimuli 2. Understanding Pavlovs Understanding a. Cognitive Processes i. Animals can learn the predictability of an event ii. The more predictable the association, the stronger the conditioned response. b. Biological Predispositions i. Just about any activity of which the organism is capable can be conditioned and these responses can be conditioned to any stimulus that the organism can perceive ii. Taste aversion 3. Pavlovs Legacy a. Applications of Classical Conditioning i. Wards away crack heads ii. Immune response to a particular taste iii. Provided a basis idea that human emotions and behavior, though biologically influenced, are mainly a bundle of conditioned responses

Module 18

Howard Giang

Associative learning learning that two events occur together Classical conditioning a type of learning in which an organism comes to associate stimuli. A neutral stimulus that signals an unconditional stimulus begins to produce a response that anticipates and prepares for the unconditioned stimulus. Also called Pavlovian or respondent conditioning. Learning a relatively permanent change in an organisms behavior due to experience. Behaviorism the view that psychology (1) should be an objective science that (2) studies behavior without reference to mental processes. Most research psychologists today agree with (1) but not with (2). Unconditioned response (UR) in classical conditioning, the unlearned, naturally occurring response to the unconditioned stimulus (US), such as salivation when food is in the mouth. Unconditioned stimulus (US) in classical conditioning, a stimulus that unconditionally triggers a response. Conditioned response (CR) in classical conditioning, the learned response to a previously neutral stimulus (CS). Conditioned stimulus - in classical conditioning, an originally irrelevant stimulus that, after association with an unconditioned stimulus (US), comes to trigger a conditioned response. Extinction the diminishing of a conditioned response, occurs in classical conditioning when an unconditioned stimulus. Spontaneous recovery in classical conditioning, the reappearance, after a pause, of an extinguished conditioned response. Generalization in classical conditioning, the tendency, once a response has been conditioned, for stimuli similar to the conditioned stimulus and stimuli that do not signal an unconditioned stimulus. Discrimination in classical conditioning, the learned ability to distinguish between a conditioned stimulus and stimuli that do not signal an unconditioned stimulus.