4.1.1 Classical Conditioning

Question 1

How do people learn through classical conditioning?

Answer 1

Through association

Question 2

What does it assume about learning?

Answer 2

Learning = passive, a reflex in humans & animals

Question 3

Define ‘unconditioned stimulus’ (UCS)

Answer 3

produces natural, unlearnt response, intended to be associated w a certain response

Question 4

Define ‘unconditioned response’ (UCR).

Answer 4

response occurring w/o learning, intended to be associated w a certain stimulus

Question 5

Define ‘neutral stimulus’ (NS).

Answer 5

thing not involved w UCR, environmental stimuli that doesn’t produce behavioural response

Question 6

Define ‘conditioned stimulus’ (CS)

Answer 6

new stimulus that’s been associated w UCS so it produces same response on it’s own

Question 7

Define ‘conditioned response’ (CR)

Answer 7

A response that is learned by pairing the originally neutral stimulus with the unconditioned stimulus.

Question 8

Describe the scientific formula with the example of a bell and food using the 3 stages: before conditioning, during conditioning, and after conditioning.

Answer 8

1) Before
Bell (NS) –> No response
Food (UCS) –> Salivation (UCR)
2) During
Bell (NS) + Food (UCS) –> Salivation (ucr)
3) After
Bell (CS) –> Salivation (CR)

Question 9

List the 5 principles of classical conditioning.

Answer 9

1) Generalisation
2) Discrimination
3) Extinction
4) Spontaneous Recovery
5) One Trial Learning

Question 10

Define ‘generalisation’

Answer 10

Extension of CR from og stimulus to similar stimulus

Question 11

Define ‘discrimination’

Answer 11

CR only producsed by og stimulus, it does not extend to similar stimulus

Question 12

Define ‘extinction’

Answer 12

If CS is continuously presented without UCS then CR gradually dies out
BECAUSE there’s no association between CS + UCS

Question 13

Define ‘spontaneous recovery’

Answer 13

If CR is not reinforced, becomes extinguished but after a delay may reappear
Suggest extinction suppresses the CR, not permanently extinguishing it

Question 14

Define ‘one trial learning’

Answer 14

Conditioning occurs immediately, after one trial only

Question 15

EACH-Evidence

Answer 15

P- Pavlov (1927) supports
E-Showed how CC can be used to make a dog salivate (UCR) to sound of a bell (NS) when called for food (UCS). After several pairings of the bell with the food, the dog began to salivate at the sound of the bell in anticipation to the food.
E-S, demonstrated that learning occurs through association due to the unconditioned response of salivation following the pairing of NS & UCS. Supports CC proposal

P-
E-
E-

Question 16

EACH-Application

Question 17

EACH-Criticisms

Answer 17

P-Use of single case experiment/ Little Albert
E-Can’t be replicated due to ethical reasons, sample limited & individualised