1. Module 9 Classical Conditioning

2. 3 Kinds of Learning l Classical Conditioning n Kind of learning in which a neutral stimulus acquires the ability to produce a response that was originally produced by a different stimulus l Operant Conditioning n Kind of learning in which the consequences that follow some behavior increase or decrease the likelihood of that behavior’s occurrence in the future l Cognitive Learning n Kind of learning that involves mental processes, such as attention and memory n May be learned through observation or imitation n May not involve any external rewards

3. Procedure: Select Stimulus & Response l Neutral Stimulus causes a sensory response, does not produce the reflex being tested l Unconditioned Stimulus (UCS) n triggers a physiological reflex, such as salivation or eye blink l Unconditioned Response (UR) n An unlearned, innate, involuntary physiological reflex that is elicited by the UCS

4. Procedure: Establishing Classical Conditioning l Trial n Common procedure used in classical conditioning n Present both stimuli l Typical trial n Pair the neutral stimulus (tone) with the UCS (food) n Tone + Food = UCR (Salivation)

5. Testing For Conditioning l After 10 to 100 trials, test for the occurrence of classical conditioning l Present the CS (tone) without the UCS (food) l Conditioned stimulus (CS) n Formerly neutral stimulus that has acquired the ability to elicit a response that was previously elicited by the UCS l Conditioned response (CR) n Elicited by the CS n CR is similar to, but not identical in size or amount to, the UCR

6. Other Conditioning Concepts l Generalization n Tendency for a stimulus that is similar to the original CS to elicit a response that is similar to the CR n Carla may also experience anxiety when smelling her own hair shampoo because it is similar to the dentist’s aftershave l Discrimination n Occurs when an organism learns to make a particular response to some stimuli but not others n The smell of Carla’s nail polish does not elicit feelings of anxiety l Extinction n A procedure in which a CS is repeatedly presented without the UCS n Therefore, the CS no longer elicits the CR

7. Other Conditioning Concepts cont. l Spontaneous Recovery n Tendency for the CR to reappear after being extinguished even though there have been no further conditioning trials

8. How Useful is Classical Conditioning? l Adaptive value n certain abilities or traits that have evolved in animals and humans that increases their chance of survival n finding food, acquiring mates, and avoiding pain l Taste-aversion learning n Associating a particular sensory cue with getting sick n Thereafter avoiding that particular sensory cue n Rats quickly learn to avoid the smells or taste associated with getting sick after eating poisonous bait l Preparedness n Animals and humans are biologically prepared to associate some combinations of conditioned and unconditioned stimuli more easily than others

9. Conditioned Emotional Response l Feeling some positive or negative emotion when experiencing a stimulus that initially accompanied a pleasant or painful event l Many couples have a special song that becomes emotionally associated with their relationship

10. Can Emotional Responses Be Conditioned? l John Watson tried to classically condition an emotional response in a young child named Little Albert l He presented a white rat followed by a loud noise that elicited a startle and crying l Albert developed an emotional response (fear) to the white rat Source: PhotoDisc, Inc.

11. Systematic Desensitization l Procedure based on classical conditioning l Person imagines or visualizes fearful or anxiety-evoking stimuli and then immediately uses deep relaxation to overcome the anxiety l Serves as a form of counter conditioning because it replaces fear with relaxation 3 Steps To Systematic Desensitization 1) Learn to relax 2) Make an anxiety hierarchy 3) Imagine and relax