Classical Conditioning

Question 1

How do people learn through classical conditioning?

Answer 1

Through association.

Question 2

Define ‘unconditioned stimulus’ (UCS).

Answer 2

Any stimulus that produces a natural, unlearnt response which is intended to be associated with a certain response.

Question 3

Define ‘unconditioned response’ (UCR).

Answer 3

Any response that occurs naturally without learning that is intended to be associated with a certain stimulus.

Question 4

Define ‘neutral stimulus’ (NS).

Answer 4

A thing which produces no response.

Question 5

Define ‘conditioned stimulus’ (CS).

Answer 5

A neutral stimulus that when paired with an unconditioned stimulus elicits the same response.

Question 6

Define ‘conditioned response’ (CR).

Answer 6

A response that is learned by pairing the originally neutral stimulus with the unconditioned stimulus.

Question 7

Describe the scientific formula with the example of a bell and food using the 3 stages: before conditioning, during conditioning, and after conditioning.

Answer 7

1) Before
Bell (NS) --> No response
Food (UCS) --> Salivation (UCR)
2) During
Bell (NS) + Food (UCS) --> Salivation (UCR)
3) After
Bell (CS) --> Salivation (CR)

Question 8

List the 5 principles of classical conditioning.

Answer 8

1) Generalisation
2) Discrimination
3) Extinction
4) Spontaneous Recovery
5) One Trial Learning

Question 9

Define ‘generalisation’ in terms of classical conditioning.

Answer 9

Extension of the conditioned response from the original stimulus to similar stimuli.

Question 10

Give an example of generalisation.

Answer 10

Having a fear of loud bangs due to having a bad experience with fireworks.

Question 11

Define ‘discrimination’ in terms of classical conditioning.

Answer 11

The conditioned response is produced only by presentation of the original stimulus, it does not extend to similar stimuli.

Question 12

Give an example of discrimination.

Answer 12

Seeing a specific type of car and feeling fear due to being in a car crash in that type of car.

Question 13

Define ‘extinction’ in terms of classical conditioning.

Answer 13

If the conditioned stimulus is continually presented without the unconditioned stimulus then the conditioned response gradually dies out.

Question 14

Give an example of extinction.

Answer 14

Associating a feeling of happiness with a school bell that signifies the end of the day going away after not attending school for a long period of time.

Question 15

Define ‘spontaneous recovery’ in terms of classical conditioning.

Answer 15

When a previously extinguished conditioned response may reappear after a period of rest.

Question 16

Give an example of spontaneous recovery.

Answer 16

The feeling of happiness when hearing a school bell coming back after hearing a bell.

Question 17

Define ‘one trial learning’ in terms of classical conditioning.

Answer 17

When conditioning occurs immediately, after one trial only.

Question 18

Give an example of one trial learning.

Answer 18

Associating getting burnt after touching a hot stove and so have learnt not to touch a hot stove after one trial.

Question 19

Using the acronym ‘EACH’, evaluate 2 ‘evidence’ points.

Answer 19

P - Pavlov’s (1927) research supports
E - Showed how classical conditioning can make a dog salivate at the sound of a bell
E - Demonstrating how learning occurs through association
P - Watson and Rayner’s research supports
E - Study of Little Albert shows how a child can be classically conditioned to develop a phobia of a rat due to pairing it with a loud sound to frighten him
E - Demonstrating how learning occurs through association in humans

Question 20

Using the acronym ‘EACH’, evaluate a high and low ‘how’ point.

Answer 20

P - High reliability
E - Much research is carried out in controlled conditions
E - Easy to replicate studies and compare findings
P - Low generalisability
E - Much research uses animals
E - Humans are more complex and have qualitative differences to animals brains and so can’t generalise

Question 21

Are there any applications?

Answer 21

P - Yes
E - It has lead to treatments of phobias through systematic desensitisation by pairing a phobia with relaxation to replace the fear due to reciprocal inhibition meaning they can’t both exist at the same time
E - Demonstrating that the principles of classical conditioning can be used to help people with phobias

Question 22

Using the acronym ‘EACH’, evaluate 2 low ‘credibility’ points.

Answer 22

P - Reductionist
E - Complex behaviour is confined to saying people learn through association and it ignores acquisition of other behaviours
E - It is therefore a too simplistic view of how we learn, other theories such as social learning theory offer alternative explanations
P - Deterministic
E - It doesn’t allow for a degree of free will in learning
E - As it says that a person doesn’t have control over the reactions they have learnt from classical conditioning