Classical Conditioning

Question 1

Who was Pavlov?

Answer 1

Studied salivation in dogs
- Noted that they didn’t drool as much in response to wet dog food, but quite a bit in response to dry food

Question 2

What did Pavlov do?

Answer 2

Concluded there were two types of reflexes:
1. Unconditional reflexes – no learning needed, these are instinctual and occur automatically.
2. Conditioned reflexes – must be taught; depend on specific conditions before behavior will occur.

Also concluded that unconditional reflexes have two distinct parts :
1. Unconditioned stimulus (UCS)
2. Unconditioned response (UCR)

Question 3

Unconditioned Stimulus (UCS)

Answer 3

Any stimulus that elicits an automatic response without any previous training/learning

Question 4

Unconditioned response (UCR)

Answer 4

The instinctual response to that stimulus; again no learning or training required.

Question 5

Pavlov’s Classical Conditioning Process

Answer 5

Pavlov noted that almost anything could become a CS if it was paired with the UCS.

1. Pavlov taught a dog to drool to the sound of a ticking metronome (CS) when he paired it with food (UCS).

This is an example of High Order conditioning - Pairing a neutral stimulus with a well established CS

Question 6

How do you know the pairing was successful?

Answer 6

If the CS is presented BEFORE the UCS and it elicits the response (UCR), then the pairing has been successful.

Question 7

Pairing the CS and UCS → Continuity

Answer 7

The closeness in time or space between two events

Question 8

Pairing the CS and UCS → Trace conditioning

Answer 8

The CS begins and ends before the UCS is presented

Example: Buzzer sounds, 5 second delay, then you are squirted with water

Question 9

Pairing the CS and UCS → Delayed conditioning

Answer 9

The CS and the UCS overlap

Example: Buzzer sounds and as it is fading, you are squirted with water

Question 10

Pairing the CS and UCS → Simultaneous conditioning

Answer 10

CS and UCS coincide exactly!

Example: Buzzer sounds AND squirt of water are released at the same time

Question 11

Pairing the CS and UCS → Backward conditioning

Answer 11

CS follows the UCS

Example : Squirt of water is followed by the buzzer sound

Question 12

Extinction

Answer 12

Repeatedly presenting a CS without the UCS will eventually lead to extinction
- The pairing will fall apart and the CS will fail to produce a CR

Question 13

Understanding Classical Conditioning

Answer 13

How does it occur?
- Pairings of UCS and CS.

How active is it?
- Passive; pairings occur, learning happens afterwards

Participation?
- Involuntary; based on reflexes