4.1.1 Classical Conditioning Flashcards
Who created classical conditioning
Pavlov (1927)
What is classical conditioning
Learning through Association
What is a stimulus and a response
A stimulus is something in our environment that affects us
A response is our reaction to a stimulus
Explain the classical conditioning pairing diagram
Before conditioning -
Neutral stimulus -> No response
During conditioning -
Neutral stimulus-> Unconditioned stimulus-> Unconditioned response
After conditioning - Conditioned stimulus-> Conditioned response
How does classical conditioning work
If you pair an unconditioned stimulus with the neutral stimulus, this forms an association. The neutral stimulus now becomes the conditioned stimulus and the unconditioned stimulus becomes the conditioned response.
What is spontaneous recovery
Sometimes a learned response can suddenly reemerge even after a period of extinction. Spontaneous recovery is the reappearance of the conditioned response after a rest period or period of lessened response.
What is Extinction
Extinction is when the occurrences of a conditioned response decreases or disappears. In classical conditioning, this happens when a conditioned stimulus is no longer paired with an unconditioned stimulus.
What is stimulus generalisation
Once a CR is formed, there is a tendency for it to appear in response to things other than the original CS. Quite often, people who have learned by association will carry on making associations.
Evaluate classical conditioning
CREDIBILITY - lots of research that supports it (Watson & rayner and Pavlov) research was done in lab so very scientific
OBJECTIONS - Opposing theories like operant conditioning and social learning theory.Also studies with kids and animals are not generalisable.
Also theory is only based on nature and its possible that people could be predisposition to behaviour.Also no thought about cognition
APPLICATION - Can be used to help with therapy e.g systematic desensitisation.
