Classical Conditioning

Question 1

Classical conditioning

Answer 1

Classical conditioning is the work of Ivan Pavlov. It is a learning theory that suggests that events which occur together are associated and acquire a similar meaning.

Classical conditioning is different to operant conditioning. In classical conditioning we are looking at responses to stimuli whereas in operant conditioning we are interested in responses to behaviour.

Pavlov demonstrated that innate responses such as a dog salivating (unconditioned response) when it sees food (unconditioned stimulus) can be associated with a neutral stimulus (conditioned stimulus) such as ringing a bell, so that ringing the bell can cause salivation even in the absence of food (conditioned response).

Question 2

Extinction

Answer 2

DescriptionIf a conditioned stimulus is repeatedly presented without the unconditioned stimulus then the conditioned response will disappear

Question 3

Stimulus generalisation

Answer 3

DescriptionThis is the extension of the conditioned response from the original conditioned stimulus to other similar stimuli

Question 4

Spontaneous recovery

Answer 4

DescriptionIf the conditioned stimulus is not presented at all for sometime after extinction and is then presented again the conditioned response will return to some degree

Question 5

Forward conditioning

Answer 5

DescriptionIn forward conditioning the conditioned stimulus precedes to unconditioned stimulus. There are two main types:

In delay conditioning the conditioned stimulus proceeds the unconditioned stimulus by a delay. The conditioned stimulus is still active when the unconditioned stimulus begins.

In contrast, trace conditioning involves the presentation of the unconditioned stimulus once the conditioned stimulus has finished

Question 6

Backward conditioning

Answer 6

DescriptionHere, the conditioned stimulus follows the unconditioned stimulus

Question 7

Temporal conditioning

Answer 7

DescriptionHere the unconditioned stimulus is paired to time. The unconditioned stimulus is presented at regular intervals (for example, every 20 minutes). Eventually the unconditioned response will occur shortly prior to the unconditioned stimulus

Question 8

Aversive conditioning

Answer 8

DescriptionA technique where an unpleasant stimulus is paired with an unwanted behaviour (such as nail-biting, smoking) in order to create an aversion to it

Question 9

Counter conditioning

Answer 9

DescriptionTeaching a different task or behaviour than the one that was previously occurring in a situation. For example, a dog lunges at the window when the postman walks by. The new task will be sitting quietly

Question 10

Incubation

Answer 10

DescriptionThis occurs in fear responses. When a person is exposed to a stimulus which causes fear (for example being bitten by a dog), the fear response can increase over time due to brief exposures to the conditioned stimulus (for example to sight of dogs). This explains how fears can grow