Classical conditioning

Question 1

Classical conditioning is …

Answer 1

• learning through association
• a form of learning where a neutral stimulus is associated with an unconditional stimulus taking on its properties so that a new stimulus is learned

Question 2

Unconditioned stimulus is …

Answer 2

• any stimulus that produces a response without learning taking place

Question 3

Unconditioned response is …

Answer 3

• unlearned response to an unconditioned stimulus

Question 4

Neutral stimulus is …

Answer 4

• any stimulus that does not produce the desired response becomes conditioned stimulus after being paired with UCS

Question 5

Conditioned stimulus is …

Answer 5

• stimulus that only produces the desired response after pairing with UCS

Question 6

Conditioned response is …

Answer 6

• response produced by The CS independently a. new association have been formed so that the NS produces UCR (now CR)

Question 7

What was the aim of the Little Albert study?

Answer 7

• emotional response learned through classical conditioning

Question 8

What was the procedure of the Little Albert study?

Answer 8

• shown objects, reacted to hammer noise (loud noise) associated with white rat

Question 9

What was the findings of the Little Albert study?

Answer 9

• fear of white rat was conditioned response from a neutral stimulus

Question 10

What were the different stimulus and response of the Little Albert study?

Answer 10

UCS - steel bar hit with hammer
UCR - fear and crying
NS - white rat
CS - white rat
CR - fear and crying

Question 11

What is a weakness evaluation of the Little Albert study?

Answer 11

• ethical issues
• never deconditioned child
• Alan Fridland and Hal Beck found LA was like Douglas Merritte
• a neurologically impaired baby that died a few years after the experiment due to fluid in the brain (aged 6)

Question 12

What is a weakness evaluation on the reliability of the experiment?

Answer 12

• experiment only investigate on a toddler
• low population validity
• poor generalisability

Question 13

What is a strength evaluation of the LA study?

Answer 13

• laboratory experiment
• controlled environment
• easily replicated
• easily established relationship between the stimuli being observed

Question 14

What is a strength evaluation of classical conditioning?

Answer 14

• understands fears and phobias
• someone experienced loss over christmas has negative association with christmas
• negative stimulus occurs at the same time of an event

Question 15

What is a strength research support of classical conditioning?

Answer 15

• Pavlovs dogs
  UCS - meat
  UCR - salvation
  NS - buzzer sound
• measured saliva and found dogs salivated 9 seconds after buzzer and continued for 45 seconds

Question 16

What is a weakness evaluation of classical conditioning?

Answer 16

• considered reductionist
• simplified complex behaviours
• does not account for other factors such as age, genetics or biochemical changes in the brain which have shown to directly impact behaviour