Classical Conditioning

Question 1

Learning in Psychology is…

Answer 1

A kind of behaviour theory

• Enduring changes in respond to a stimulus due to environment, past experiences, etc.
• Thus, learning theory typically explains changes in an organism’s bahaviour

Question 2

Habituation & Sensitisation:

Answer 2

Habituation = Responding less strongly to repeated stimuli over time; present in even single cell organisms

• Found in most basic form of organism

Sensitisation = Respond MORE strongly (or similarly) to repeated stimuli over time

In human experiment, typically measure physiological responses such as heart rate, sweat, etc.

Question 3

Classical Conditioning: Terminology

Answer 3

• UCS = Stimulus that does instinctually elicit an automatic, reflexive response from the organism (non-neutral stimulus).
• UCR = An automatic/instinctual response to a non-neutral stimulus.
• CS = A neutral stimulus that does not elicit any response.
• CR = A response that was previously associated with a non-neutral stimulus (UCS) that is now elicited by a neutral stimulus (CS).

Conditioned stimulus should be easy to perceive and novel (no previously learned responses)

Unconditioned stimulus should elicit an automatic (not previously learned), observable response

Question 4

Phases of Conditioning:

Answer 4

1. Acquisition Phase
2. Extinction phase
3. Spontaneous recovery phase

Question 5

Acquisition Phase:

Answer 5

• CS is presented just before the UCS (seconds); ↑ trials = ↑ CR strength
• CR will never become identical to UCR - differences in strength etc.
• ↑ Temporal contiguity (↓ time between CS and UCS) = ↑ Learning
• MORE importantly, CS must be informative about the arrival of the UCS (forward conditioning)
• Presenting CS or UCS alone = ↓ Learning

Question 6

Acquisition: Temporal Contiguity & more definitions

Answer 6

Trial = Each pairing of the CS and UCS.

Inter-Trial Interval (ITI) = Time between trials.

Inter-Stimulus Interval (ISI) = Time between start of CS and start of UCS.

Forward conditioning = When the CS is presented before the UCS.

Backward conditioning = When the UCS is presented before the CS.

Question 7

Extinction phase:

Answer 7

• New response (absence of salivation) gradually inhibits the CR;
• Does NOT mean the subject is forgetting; the CR does not vanish completely but rather becomes overshadowed by the new response; evident by spontaneous recovery phase

Question 8

Spontaneous recovery phase:

Answer 8

• When an overshadowed CR re-emerges (in a weaker form after a delay if the CS is re-presented
• Related to the renewal effect; response re-emerges when exposed to same environment (e.g. if something scary happens in a certain area, returning to that area will cause the fear to re-present

Question 9

Properties of Stimulus:

Answer 9

• Stimulus generalisation: When stimuli similar (but not identical) to the original CS elicits the CR
  
  • Stimulus discrimination: CR from unoriginal CS will be weaker than to the original CS
• Higher-order conditioning: Developing a CR to a new CS after the new CS has been paired with a previously learned CS
  
  • ↑ Stimuli = ↓ Response strength
• Latent inhibition: Difficulty classically conditioning to a CS we have repeatedly experienced already without the UCS (e.g. advertising for well-known brands)

Question 10

Research & Interventions:

Answer 10

• Partly responsible for the acquisition of fears: “Little Albert” experiment - Able to pair a CS (a rat; generalised to other furry animals) to an UCS (a loud noise) to produce a CR (crying and fear)

Treatment of phobias:

• Gradual exposure: For example, put little Albert in the room full with children who do not fear of rats.
• Counter-conditioning: pairing the fear stimulus with other pleasant stimuli. For example, associate rats with favourite snacks (have a snack every time a rat is present).