The End of Classical Conditioning!!

That brings us to WHY does Classical Conditioning exist? Perhaps it is there to help get us ready for things that are going to happen! Preparatory Response Theory –The purpose of the CR is to prepare the organism for the presentation of the US Sometimes the CR can be different, or even the opposite of the UR

Can the CR be opposite from the UR? Example: UCR to a shock is usually an increased heart rate. If you pair that shock with a light, the light will generally elicit a decreased heart rate Why do you think this happens... I don’t know... Could it be...

Yes! The Opponent Process Theory!! The Compensatory Response Model –Compensatory after-reactions to a US may come to be elicited by a CS –Purpose of this is probably to maintain homeostasis in the body –Remember Opponent Process Theory! –There are LOTS of practical implications for this theory

Drug Tolerance Some CSs (neutral stimuli) begin to signal that the drug is coming Therefore, when you see these CSs, your heart rate lowers, etc., thus moderating the effects of the drug (once you ingest it) –Can you think of some examples of some CSs for alcohol or drug use?

Evidence for this theory McCusker and Brown 1990 –Alcohol-expected vs. alcohol-unexpected environments (e.g. drinking at the office vs. drinking in a bar) Implications for drinking and driving Implications for drug overdose fatalities –Keep in mind, this isn’t always the case Sometimes, the CSs seem to strengthen the effects of the drugs

Practical Applications: Phobias An adaptive response “run amok” Watson and Rayner – “Little Albert” –Difficulty in conditioning Albert –Ethics of conditioning Albert

Additional Factors Affecting Conditioning Observational Learning –Ex. Dr. McCarty at the Grand Canyon Temperament – Note: Even Watson thought this genetic factor was important! –Ex. Hilary McCarty as a baby going to parties Preparedness –Species are genetically prepared to learn certain associations more easily than others –Ex. Dr. McCarty’s aquatic frogs

More factors affecting conditioning: History of Control –Having control lessens traumatic effects encountering scary stimuli Incubation –Conditioned fear responses can be strengthened by repeated, brief exposures to an aversive CR –Ex. A child’s fear of dogs or a teenage boy’s fear of girls Selective Sensitization –An increase in reactivity following exposure to an unrelated stressful event (e.g. stress during divorce makes a mild fear worse)

Biological Basis Phobias, anxiety, panic, and obsessive compulsive disorders have a similar basis Simple experiment with tone paired with shock: –After the tone, the amygdala sends a signal activating the body (heart, blood pressure, stomach, etc.) A Conditioned Response! –Feedback loop with Hippocampus makes memories very strong –Primitive, deeply wired Sometimes helpful, sometimes not!

Treating Phobias Systematic Desensitization –Why does it work? Counterconditioning (Wolpe) –Reciprocal Inhibition –Led to use of “deep muscle relaxation” Others say it is just extinction –Probably, both processes are part of why it works –Imaginal vs. In vivo

Flooding A treatment involving prolonged exposure to a feared stimulus, thereby allowing it to extinguish –Imaginal vs. In vivo –Aversion Therapy for alcoholism, smoking, etc. –Single-session treatment with participant modeling Exposure-based treatments most popular Uses participant modeling

Medical Applications Allergic reactions Immune system functioning –Immunosuppression Chemotherapy administered in a hospital setting –Gulf War Syndrome