Chapter 3 - Classical Conditioning: Foundations

Question 1

What was the first major theoretical perspective of learning?

Answer 1

Behaviourism

Question 2

What are the two theories of behaviourism?

Answer 2

1. classical

2. operant

Question 3

How does behaviourism attempt to explain human learning and behaviour?

Answer 3

All human learning and behaviour is a product of associations

Question 4

What are the basic assumptions of behaviourism?

Answer 4

1. principles of learning apply across all species (equipotentiality) therefore we can apply research findings from animal studies to humans
2. S-R psychology (stimulus - response)
   - focus on what can be measured and observed
   - Today: stimulus - organism - response (takes internal processes into account)
3. organisms are born as blank slates
   - aside from reflexes, we are shaped by our environment
4. learning is largely the result of environmental events
   - beyond organism’s control
   - we can predict behaviour based on history
   - modern behaviourists do not agree with this anymore

Question 5

What kind of learning did Pavlov study?

Answer 5

associative learning

Question 6

What is associative learning?

Answer 6

New reflexes to stimuli can be acquired through learning (modify the reflex)

Question 7

What is the end result of classical conditioning?

Answer 7

A conditioned reflex that is formed to a once neutral stimulus

Question 8

What are two clues that tell us that reflexes are involuntary?

Answer 8

1. they can be unlearned (unconditioned)

2. they can be learned (conditioned)

Question 9

describe the classical pavlovian conditioning

Answer 9

before conditioning trials:
food –> salivation (food=unconditioned stimulus; salivation = unconditioned response)
after conditioning trials:
bell –> salivation (bell = neutral stimulus/conditioned stimulus; salivation = conditioned response)

Question 10

What is object learning?

Answer 10

learning the properties of an object

Question 11

What is the definition of classical conditioning?

Answer 11

It is a form of learning in which an association is formed between a stimulus/stimuli and another

Question 12

When does a neutral stimulus become a conditioned stimulus?

Answer 12

Through learning

Question 13

What is the reflexive line?

Answer 13

US — UR (what naturally occurs)

Question 14

What is the pairing line?

Answer 14

NS + US (conditioning - pairing NS and US)

Question 15

What is the result line?

Answer 15

CS—CR (happens reflexively)

Question 16

What are some characteristics of classical pavlovian conditioning?

Answer 16

• can occur quickly (5 or 6, or even 1 pairing)
• most likely to occur if the CS is presented first (before the US, less likely at same time and almost never afterwards)
• involves involuntary responses (that are learned)

Question 17

What are some examples of human learning?

Answer 17

• taste aversions
• phobias
• test anxiety (fear of failure)

Question 18

What is generalization?

Answer 18

occurs when a stimulus, similar to the CS, elicits the CR

ex. bitten by a bulldog becomes a fear of all dogs
- similar properties have to be shared (adaptive evolutionarily)

Question 19

What is discrimination?

Answer 19

occurs when the CR is made only to the CS and not to any other similar stimuli

ex. Pavlov’s dogs were conditioned to the note “C”
- showed discrimination when notes were far from C
- showed generalization the closer the piano got to C

Question 20

Describe the study performed by Watson and Rayner in 1920 on conditioning emotional responses?

Answer 20

Little Albert
- conditioned a 9 month old to fear a white rat
rat - no fear
rats + noise
rat = fear
- little Albert generalized his response to fear white fluffly things as well

Question 21

How can we condition fear in rats?

Answer 21

using a conditioned emotional response procedure
phase 1: trained to press lever for food
phase 2: trained to associate CS with US (shock)
phase 3: CS presented during lever pressing
Dependent variable: suppression ratio (indirect fear response) or freezing (direct fear response)
- change in response (decrease) = suppression

Question 22

What is the suppression ratio?

Answer 22

CS responding/(CS responding + pre CS responding)

Question 23

Describe the study that was performed by Ivkovich et. al (1999) on eye blink conditioning?

Answer 23

Pavlovian conditioned eye-blink response in 5 month old infants
CS = 750 ms tone
US = puff of air in eye
- group 1 (paired) - conditioning trials 12 seconds apart
- group 2 (not paired)

Question 24

Describe the study performed by Smith and Roll (1967) on conditioned taste aversion?

Answer 24

• water deprived rats
• conditioning day: 0.1% saccharine in water
• sickness induced following saccharin exposure (X-Rays)
• control rats received sham radiation
• 24 hours after treatment, measured consumption of saccharin water in a two bottle choice test
• radiated rats avoided saccharin (only if the rats were radiated 24 hours after saccharin exposure did the association not form)

Question 25

What evidence is supported in Smith and Roll’s 1967 study on conditioned taste aversion?

Answer 25

evidence of one trial learning and long delay learning; strong aversion

Question 26

What is evaluative conditioning?

Answer 26

liking of an initially neutral stimulus changes by virtue of having that stimulus associated with something we already like or dislike

Question 27

What is appetitive conditioning?

Answer 27

the opposite of aversive conditioning - conditioning of something good

Question 28

Give an example of pavlovian conditioned approach?

Answer 28

• daily 60 minute sessions
• CS = 15 sec white noise
• US = 0.3 ml of 10% sucrose
• paired rats: CS –> US (10 pairings per session)
• unpaired rats: 10 CS and 10 US experienced independently of each other
• control by examining total port entries
• no difference in motor abilities, motivation, etc

Question 29

What is sign tracking (autoshaping)?

Answer 29

the tendency to approach appetitive stimuli (ex. stimulus that signals food)

Question 30

What needs to happen for sign tracking to occur?

Answer 30

The CS must be a discrete and localizable stimulus

- the cue for food becomes the reward itself

Question 31

What is goal tracking?

Answer 31

going to where the reward is itself