Classical conditioning: Pavlov (1927)

Question 1

Evaluate Pavlov

3

Answer 1

> Extraneous variables, int reliability^. Soundproof chamber = >external sounds that may distract the dog (+stimuli). Collection of saliva externally in cannula prevented loss of saliva, valid. NS carefully chosen so it didn’t already elicit saliva response

Dogs >generalisability. Humans = structurally diff brains, respond diff e.g. larger cerebral cortex. ^Cog processing (conscious choice). Pavlov thought his findings generalised to humans

Obesity can understood (CR’s). Jansen et al. suggest overweight children acquired strong association between cues that predict arrival of food and saliva response, overeating follows exposure to cues

Question 2

What was Pavlov’s aim?

1

Answer 2

• Explore how salivation becomes associated w new stimuli, unrelated to food

Question 3

What was Pavlov’s procedure?

5

Answer 3

• Measured saliva in response to NS (metronome), then pair NS w UCS of food (around 20x)
  1) FOOD (UCS) = SALIVATION (UCR)
  2) BELL (NS) = NO RESPONSE
  3) BELL (NS) PAIRED W FOOD (UCS) = SALIVATION (UCR)
  4) BELL (CS) = SALIVATION (CR)

Question 4

What did Pavlov find?

1

Answer 4

• Saliva reflex = only associated w NS if dog was alert and undistracted

Question 5

What did Pavlov conclude?

1

Answer 5

• Link made in brain between UCS and an NS occurs just before UCS (signalisation) - survival value