Classical Conditioning

Question 0

Briefly describe a classical conditioning study.

Answer 0

Ivan Pavlov studied learning by association and used naturally occurring reflexes in animal.
PAVLOV’S DOGS

Question 1

What is classical conditioning?

Answer 1

It is learning by a process of association between a stimulus and response.

Question 2

What is the unconditioned stimulus?

Answer 2

The stimulus that naturally brings about the response. Eg food.

Question 3

What is the conditioned stimulus?

Answer 3

The stimulus we learn to respond to. Eg bell

Question 4

What is a response?

Answer 4

The behaviour that is produced as a result of a stimulus. Eg salivation

Question 5

What is the unconditioned response?

Answer 5

The response that happens by reflex.

Question 6

What is the conditioned response?

Answer 6

The response that happens by reflex.

Question 7

What is the conditioned response?

Answer 7

The response that comes about as a result of the conditioned stimulus.

Question 8

What is a neutral stimulus?

Answer 8

A stimulus which doesn’t bring about a response normally, but becomes the conditional stimulus after being paired with the unconditional stimulus. Eg bell.

Question 9

What experiment was set up by John B. Watson?

Answer 9

Little Albert.

Question 10

What was the aim of the little Albert study?

Answer 10

To show that emotional reactions could be classically conditioned in people.

Question 11

How did Watson conduct the Little Albert experiment?

Answer 11

He showed Albert a rat, in which he had no fear. The next time the rat was shown, he made a loud noise, so the child began to cry. After repeatedly pairing the rat with the loud noise, Albert began to cry after seeing the rat.

Question 12

Extinction:

Answer 12

If the bell is repeatedly sounded without the food, salivation slowly disappears.

Question 13

Stimulus generalisation:

Answer 13

The conditioned stimulus (bell) could be changed in tone and volume and still elicit the conditioned response of salivation.

Question 14

Stimulus discrimination:

Answer 14

A point is reached when the sound of the bell is so different that the conditioned response doesn’t happen.

Question 15

Spontaneous recovery:

Answer 15

If the conditioned response has been extinguished, then at a later time the dog would sometimes salivate to the sound of the bell.

Question 16

What is operant conditioning?

Answer 16

Where behaviour becomes more or less likely as a result of its consequences.

Question 17

Reinforcement:

Answer 17

More likely to be repeated on similar occasions in the future.

Question 18

Punished:

Answer 18

Less likely to be repeated in the future and may be extinguished entirely.

Question 19

How is operant conditioning different to classical conditioning?

Answer 19

Operant conditioning works with all types of responses. Not just reflex responses but those under voluntary control.

Question 20

What is The Skinner Box?

Answer 20

A hungry rat has to learn to press a lever to obtain a reward of food. The rat has to learn the operation. Only if rat presses lever= reward.
The rat has to operate on its environment to gain reinforcement. If the rat is reinforced every time, the behaviour of lever pressing is learned.

Question 21

Positive reinforcement:

Answer 21

The giving of a reward. It increases the likelihood that the behaviour will be repeated in the future.

Question 22

Primary reinforces:

Answer 22

Rewards that are neutral. Eg food

Question 23

Secondary reinforces:

Answer 23

Something which is not a reward in its self, a neutral stimulus that has squired reinforcing properties. Eg money