1. Procedures Based on Principles of Respondent Conditioning
Chapter 14

2. Respondent conditioning
Deals with behaviors that are elicited automatically by some stimulus
Doesn’t produce a new behavior
Causes an existing behavior to occur
Involves reflexive behavior
New stimulus-response sequence is learned
CLASSICAL CONDITIONING
1. Deals with behaviors that are elicited automatically by some stimulus
Accordingly, this process of conditioning that Pavlov discovered is called classical conditioning
2. The stimulus does not produce a new behavior,
3. but causes an existing behavior to occur (i.e. salivating)
(THINK LIME AND HOW IT MAKES YOUR MOUTH WATER)
4. It is important to note that classical conditioning always involves some kind of reflexive behavior
A reflex being a relatively simple, unlearned behavior that is governed by the nervous system
5. And, in classical conditioning, a new stimulus-response sequence is learned
EX: the dog in the lab had formed a new association between Pavlov and food

3. Definitions Operant Conditioning Respondent Conditioning
Behavior that operates on the environment can be modified by its consequences
Operant behaviors – behaviors that operate on the environment to generate consequences
Respondent Conditioning
Also called Pavlovian Conditioning
Behavior is elicited by prior stimuli apart from the consequences from behavior
Respondent Behaviors

4. Terminology Unconditioned stimulus (US): Unconditioned response (UR):
natural stimulus producing response
Unconditioned response (UR):
unlearned response
Conditioned stimulus (CS):
originally neutral now elicits reflective response
Conditioned response (CR):
learned reflective response to conditioned stimulus
TERMINOLOGY
Unconditioned stimulus (UCS): natural stimulus that reflectively produces response
Unconditioned response (UCR): dog’s salivation (unlearned, reflexive)
Conditioned stimulus (CS): originally neutral elicits reflective response
Conditioned response (CR): learned reflective response to a conditioned stimulus

5. Principle of Respondent Conditioning
A neutral stimulus followed closely in time by a US, which elicits a UR, then the previously neutral stimulus will also tend to elicit the same response

6. Principle of Respondent Conditioning

7. Factors Influencing Respondent Conditioning
The greater the number of pairings of a CS with a US, the greater is the ability of the CS to elicit the CR
Stronger conditioning occurs if the CS precedes the US by about half a second, rather than by a longer time or rather than following the US
Conditioned taste aversion – exception to the rule
A CS acquires greater ability to elicit a CR if the CS is always paired with a given US than if it is only occasionally paired with the US
When several neutral stimuli precede a US, the stimulus that is most consistently associated with the US is the one most likely to become a strong CS
Respondent conditioning will develop more quickly and strongly when the CS or US or both are intense rather than weak

8. Higher Order Conditioning
1st order
Pair NS and US to produce UR
CS will produce CR
EX: Pair bell and food to produce salivation; bell will produce salivation after conditioning
2nd order
Pair NS and CS to produce CR
Produce a new CS which elicits the CR
EX: Pair light with bell to produce salivation; light will produce salivation after conditioning

9. Higher Order Conditioning

10. Factors affecting conditioning
Stimulus generalization
Similar stimuli elicit CR
Stimulus discrimination
Respond to specific stimuli, but not similar ones
FACTORS AFFECTING CONDITIONING
In studying classical conditioning, Pavlov discovered many factors that could affect the strength of the conditioned response.
EX: the more frequently the conditioned stimulus and the unconditioned stimulus were paired, the stronger the association between the two.
Pavlov also found that the timing of the stimulus presentations affected the strength of the conditioned response
1. Generalization-phenomenon in which , after conditioning, stimuli that resemble the conditioned stimulus will elicit the conditioned response even though they themselves were never paired with the unconditioned response.
2. Discrimination: occurrence of a learned response to a specific stimulus, but not to other, similar stimuli
training can abolish generalization between two stimuli. By not linking the unconditioned stimulus to the neutral stimulus that has been generalized to, the animal will discriminate.

11. Respondent Extinction
Presenting a CS while withholding the US
CS will gradually loose its capability of eliciting the CR

12. Counterconditioning
Condition a new response to CS at the same time as the former CR is being extinguished

13. Common Respondently Conditioned Responses
Reflexive responses can be conditioned to previously neutral stimili
Biologically adaptive
Digestive System
Circulatory System – increased heart rate, blood flow
Respiratory System – coughing, sneezing, asthma attacks
Other Systems – urinary, reproductive systems
Biological Preparedness – predisposition of members of a species to be more readily conditioned to some stimuli as CSs than to others
Ex: taste aversion – conditioned reflex of digestive system

14. Respondent and Operant Conditioning Compared
Responses
Respondent behaviors are reflexive
Operant behaviors are voluntary
Reinforcers
Respondent conditioning pairs NS with US before the response
Operant conditioning presents reinforcement after the response
Extinction
Respondent conditioning – presentation of CS without US
Operant conditioning – withholding the reinforcer following a previously reinforced response
CSs and SDs
Both produce responses that have been conditioned to them
Conditioning procedures differ
CSs elicit the response conditioned to them
SDs evoke the responses to them

15. Applications of Respondent Conditioning
Aversion Therapy
Repeated pairing of a troublesome reinforcer with an aversive event
Rationale is counterconditioning
Treatment of Chronic Constipation
Presenting a mild, non-painful electric current prior to defecating
Defecation initially elicited by laxative, but drug gradually decreased
Apply current at the same time each day, so that eventually can remove the current and natural environment will elicit defecation response
Treatment of Nocturnal Enuresis (Bed-Wetting)
Bell-pad treatment
Bell connected to pad under the bottom sheet
Bell sounds (US) and awakens (UR) as soon as the first drop of urine makes contact with the pad
Eventually child will wake up before urinating
Has been conditioned to the stimulus of pressure of bladder