Classical Conditioning

Question 1

Describe classical conditioning

Answer 1

• States that people learn through association
• When an individual continuously pairs an UCS with a NS, that produces an UCR, the NS becomes a CS and the UCR becomes CR
  4 principles:
• Generalisation can occur - extending the CR from the original stimulus to similar stimuli
• Discrimination can occur - CR is produced only by presentation of the original stimulus, it does not extend to similar stimuli
• Extinction can occur - if CS is continually presented without the UCS then the CR gradually dies out
• Spontaneous recovery can occur - when a previously extinguished CR may reappear after a period of rest

Question 2

Supporting research?

Answer 2

P- Pavlov (1902)
E- Showed hoe classical conditioning can be used to make a dog salivate to the sound of a bell
E- Demonstrating how learning occurs through association

Question 3

Criticism of supporting research?

Answer 3

P- Animal studies
E- Generalisability issues
E- Humans are more complex and have different cognitive abilities, such as language

Question 4

Application?

Answer 4

P- Lead to development of treatments for phobias
E- Such as SD, which removes phobias through a hierarchy of fears based on classical conditioning
E- Demonstrates the principles of classical conditioning are valid and can be used to treat phobias in real life

Question 5

Weakness?

Answer 5

P- Reductionist
E- Complex behaviours are broken down into smaller stimulus/response units of behaviour
E- Can lead to incomplete explanations