classical conditioning Flashcards
definition
classical contitioning is learning through association
point 1
pavlov’s study where he conditioned a dog via classical conditioning to salivate to the sound of a bell can be used to explain features of CC.
pavlov paired/ associated the NS- bell, elicts no natural response with an UCS food, stimuli which produces an UCR- salivating, natural response.
over repeated association, the dog becan to salivate UCS to the NSbell eithout the prescence of food, this is CR. 11 drops 45 seconds
demonstating how a previously NS can produce a new response through association
pavlov also demonstated extinction which is when the new response CR no longer occurs and the association is disconnected.
this occured when pavlov repeatidly played the bell without the presentation of food, and the dog no longer produced the CR.
spontaneous recovery can sometimes occur when extinction occurs but tesponse reappears.
weakness- dogs are animals and their PFC is not as complex, nor used in the same way as humans they dont have as many advnaced abilities and arent adapted to social structures.
therefore findings from pavlov may not represnent how humans learn through CC. limiting credibiliy u
apoint 2
although watson and rayner use a human to create a fear of a white rat, little albert.
this was done through associating the NS, white rat, produced no natural response, with UCS, loud bang which produced UCR, fear.
after one pairing the child became fearful of the white rat, one trail learning- when learning takes place after stimulus is paired with NS once, although his fear became worse after multiple pairings.
generalisation also occured, where thefear of the whote rat CR also generalised to other similar stimuli such as sanata claus mask and rabbit.
discrimination…
weakness: although CC cannot explain accuisition of all behaviours, such as more compelx behaviours, learniing to use a knife and fork, therefore reductionist approach of how we learn, OC which is learning through reinfoecment may be a better ecplannation, e.g. use of shaping/ chaining to complete more complex learning behaviours, knife and fork
application
SD associating CR- fear/ phobia with relaxation to feel relaxed when faced with feared stimuli- improvinf qual of life
