Classical Conditioning Flashcards
How do people learn through classical conditioning?
Through association.
Define ‘unconditioned stimulus’ (UCS).
Any stimulus that produces a natural, unlearnt response which is intended to be associated with a certain response.
Define ‘unconditioned response’ (UCR).
Any response that occurs naturally without learning that is intended to be associated with a certain stimulus.
Define ‘neutral stimulus’ (NS).
A thing which produces no response.
Define ‘conditioned stimulus’ (CS).
A neutral stimulus that when paired with an unconditioned stimulus elicits the same response.
Define ‘conditioned response’ (CR).
A response that is learned by pairing the originally neutral stimulus with the unconditioned stimulus.
Describe the scientific formula with the example of a bell and food using the 3 stages: before conditioning, during conditioning, and after conditioning.
1) Before Bell (NS) --> No response Food (UCS) --> Salivation (UCR) 2) During Bell (NS) + Food (UCS) --> Salivation (UCR) 3) After Bell (CS) --> Salivation (CR)
List the 5 principles of classical conditioning.
1) Generalisation
2) Discrimination
3) Extinction
4) Spontaneous Recovery
5) One Trial Learning
Define ‘generalisation’ in terms of classical conditioning.
Extension of the conditioned response from the original stimulus to similar stimuli.
Give an example of generalisation.
Having a fear of loud bangs due to having a bad experience with fireworks.
Define ‘discrimination’ in terms of classical conditioning.
The conditioned response is produced only by presentation of the original stimulus, it does not extend to similar stimuli.
Give an example of discrimination.
Seeing a specific type of car and feeling fear due to being in a car crash in that type of car.
Define ‘extinction’ in terms of classical conditioning.
If the conditioned stimulus is continually presented without the unconditioned stimulus then the conditioned response gradually dies out.
Give an example of extinction.
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.
Define ‘spontaneous recovery’ in terms of classical conditioning.
When a previously extinguished conditioned response may reappear after a period of rest.
Give an example of spontaneous recovery.
The feeling of happiness when hearing a school bell coming back after hearing a bell.
Define ‘one trial learning’ in terms of classical conditioning.
When conditioning occurs immediately, after one trial only.
Give an example of one trial learning.
Associating getting burnt after touching a hot stove and so have learnt not to touch a hot stove after one trial.
Using the acronym ‘EACH’, evaluate 2 ‘evidence’ points.
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
Using the acronym ‘EACH’, evaluate a high and low ‘how’ point.
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
Are there any applications?
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
Using the acronym ‘EACH’, evaluate 2 low ‘credibility’ points.
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
