Classical conditioning Flashcards
What is classical conditioning ?
Learning through association & based on reflex behaviours
What is a UCS ?
Stimulus producing natural unlearnt response
What is NS ?
Any environmental stimulus that doesn’t naturally produce a response
What is UCR ?
Response occurring naturally without learning
What is CS ?
New stimulus associated with UCS & produces same response
What is CR ?
Behaviour elicited by CS
What is the process of classical conditioning ?
- Stage 1 = before conditioning = UCS produces UCR & involves NS
- Stage 2 = during conditioning = NS associated with UCS, now CS
- Stage 3 = after conditioning = CS associated with UCS, now produces CR
What is forward conditioning ?
CS presented before UCS
What is delayed conditioning ?
CS keeps going as UCS is introduced
What is trace conditioning ?
CS start & end before UCS is introduced
What is spontaneous conditioning ?
Presenting CS & UCS at same time - simultaneously
What is backward conditioning ?
UCS presented & then afterwards comes CS
What is extinction ?
If CS continually presented without UCS, CR gradually dies out
What is spontaneous recovery ?
If conditioned response not reinforced = extinguished & after period response may reappear
What is generalisation ?
Extension of conditioned response from original stimulus to similar stimuli
What is discrimination ?
CR produced only by presentation of original stimulus, not extending to similar stimuli
What is one trial learning ?
When conditioning occurs immediately, after only one trial
How is Pavlov supporting research ?
- Paired sound of bell & food to make dog salivate
- NS & UCS associated to produce CR
How is Watson & Rayner supporting research ?
- Paired white rat to striking a loud iron bar = fear response
- Generalised to other white furry objects
How is Olson & Fazio supporting research ?
- Conditioned peoples attitudes toward little known Pokemon characters
- Presented with positive or negative words or images
- Positive word group = association characters more positively without explicit memory for pairings
What is compliment for research into CC ?
- Easily testable = experimental method
- Scientific & control over EVs
How can research into CC be criticised ?
- Largely based on animal studies
- Animals more driven by innate factors & humans have more complex brains for language & cognitive abilities
- Lacks generalisability
How is CC reductionist in a good way ?
- Complex behaviour broken down into smaller stimulus-response units of behaviour
- Can be scientifically tested
How is CC reductionist in a bad way ?
- Incomplete explanations
- Doesn’t allow for any degree of freewill in individual
- Lacks validity as according to this, a person has no control over reactions learnt from CC
What can CC not explain ?
- Acquisition of entirely new behaviours (OC)
- Only accounts for appearance of involuntary reflex actions in new situations
What is an alternative theory ?
- CC draws ideas from strict observable behaviours
- SLT further considers influence of cognition in understanding process of retaining info we observe to later imitate, explaining why behaviour sometimes appears without any conditioning
What are the applications ?
- USA K-Mart, cost conscious shoppers make beeline to take with blue light as they associate a good sale with blue light
What are therapies ?
Aversion therapy & systematic desensitisation can cure phobias & addictions
