1. Classical Conditioning
Module 15
Little Albert Video

2. I. What is Classical Conditioning?
Learning – A relatively permanent change in behavior due to experience.
Classical Conditioning – Learning by association; A stimulus gains the power to cause a response because it predicts another stimulus that already produces the response.
Stimulus – Anything in the environment that you can respond to.
Response – Any behavior or action.
Behaviorism – View that Psychology should only study observable behavior. (If you can’t see it, you can’t study it)
Cognition – Mental processes like thinking, knowing and remembering.

3. II. Components of Classical Conditioning
Classical conditioning led a group of dorm-mates to respond to the word Flush! the same way they responded to painfully hot water.

4. II. Components of Classical Conditioning
Unconditioned Stimulus (UCS) – A stimulus that triggers a response automatically and reflexively. (Ex. Very hot shower water)
Unconditioned Response (UCR) – Automatic response to the UCS. (Ex. Jumping out of the water)
Conditioned Stimulus (CS) – Previously neutral stimulus, though learning, has gained the power to cause a conditioned response. (Ex. “Flush!”)
Conditioned Response (CR) – Response to the CS. (Ex. Jumping out of the water)

5. III. Classical Conditioning Process
Pavlov demonstrated the procedures of classical conditioning by using meat to train a dog to salivate to the sound of a tuning fork. Video

6. III. Classical Conditioning Process
Acquisition – Process of developing a learned response through the pairing of the CS and UCS.
Extinction – Diminishing of a learned response; The CS loses its power to trigger a CR.
Spontaneous Recovery – Reappearance, after a rest period, of an extinguished conditioned response.
Weaker
Can be extinguished more quickly

7. III. Classical Conditioning Process
Acquisition occurs as the CS and the UCS are repeatedly paired. Extinction happens if the CS is presented by itself. Spontaneous recovery means that the extinguished CR again appears after a rest period.

8. IV. Generalization and Discrimination
Generalization – When an organism produces the same response to two similar stimuli.
Discrimination – When an organism produces different responses to two similar stimuli.
Example: You get sick eating school spaghetti so now you get sick at the sight of all spaghetti (generalization). Eventually you can eat spaghetti anywhere but school (discrimination).

9. V. Classical Conditioning in Everyday Life
Little Albert meets Watson and Rayner – Conditioned a small child to fear a white rat by associating it with a loud noise
Classical conditioning is used in advertising (pairing a product with a celebrity or emotion)
Taste aversion (associating a food with sickness)

10. Examples
Kim was very nervous about her upcoming chemistry exam. She had studied very hard. On the day of the big exam, she happened to get a stomach flu and subsequently did not do well on her test. Now when she even begins studying for any exam, she feels sick to her stomach. Identify the elements of classical conditioning.
Unconditioned Stimulus (UCS) –
Unconditioned Response (UCR) –
Conditioned Stimulus (CS) –
Conditioned Response (CR) –
Stomach Flu
Sick to stomach
Studying for exam
Sick to stomach

11. Examples
At the beginning of the school year, a relatively quiet new beeping fire alarm was installed. When it went off one day for a fire drill in September, the students didn’t respond to this new sound. Teachers had to usher them out the door. However, in October the new beeping alarm went off as the halls filled with smoke. Frightened students hurried out of the school to safety. In November, the beeping alarm went off again, and the students again hurried out fearfully. However, this time it was only a fire drill, so there was no fire. Then for 10 days straight in December, the alarm malfunctioned and went off daily. Now no one paid any attention to it again. After Christmas break, the alarm was repaired and went off as scheduled for a drill in January. Several students jumped anxiously, remembering the October fire. Identify the following elements of classical conditioning.

12. Examples Unconditioned Stimulus (UCS) Unconditioned Response (UCR)
Conditioned Stimulus (CS)
Conditioned Response (CR)
Extinction
Spontaneous Recovery
Fire/smoke
Running/scared
Alarm
Running/scared
No response to malfunction in December
Response to alarm after break in January