classical conditioning terms Flashcards
Neutral Stimulus
A stimulus that initially produces no specific reaction
E.G., The dogs hearing a bell
Stimulus Generalisation
When a response that has been generated with one stimulus occurs for another stimulus that is similar in some way.
E.G., satay chicken made you feel ill, so now you don’t like eating satay chicken, or any other type chicken.
Biologicial Preparedness: Adversion/phobias
[Seligman]
The evolutionary response in people and animals that inclines us to form associations between certain stimuli and responses in order for us to adapt and survive. Especially between stimulus that threaten our survival or expose harm to us.
E.G., John Garcia fed flavoured water to rats and then injected them with a substance that made them ill, the rats in turn refused the flavoured water
Extinction
Discontinuation of the conditioned response when the unconditioned stimulus is no longer presented with the conditioned stimuli.
E.G., food was repeatedly not presented with a bell so the dogs wouldn’t salivate at the sound of a bell.
Unconditioned Stimulus
A stimulus that leads to an automatic response.
E.G., The dogs being presented with food.
Unconditioned Response
An automatic response to a stimulus.
E.G., The dogs salivating when they are presented with the food (UCS).
Conditioned Stimulus
A stimulus that can eventually trigger a conditioned response. [Neutral Stimulus turns into the Conditioned Stimulus].
E.G., The bell [once associated with food] turns into the conditioned stimulus.
Conditioned Response
The learned response to the previously neutral stimulus.
E.G., the dogs salivating at the sound of the bell (without the food).
Acquisition
The process during conditioning- The repeated pairings of the conditioned stimulus (CS) and the unconditioned stimulus (UCS) eventually lead to acquisition.
(NS) CS + UCS = UCR
E.G., Bell + Food –> Salivation
Performance
The result of the conditioning, with the Conditioned Stimulus establishing a Conditioned Response.
CS –> CR
E.G., Bell –> Salivation
Contiguity
The timing of the neutral stimulus and the unconditioned stimulus being presented in order for the conditioning to occur.
E.G., The time between the dogs hearing the bell and being presented the food
[should be 0.5 seconds to reinforce association.]
Contingency
The reliability in the relationship between the conditioned stimulus and the conditioned response, and the expectation that one comes with the other.
E.G., the bell is rung and the dogs are consistently presented with food in association
Spontaneous Recovery
The reappearence of a conditioned response to an extinguished conditioned stimulus with the passage of time since extinction.
E.G., Dogs salivating at the sound of bell after a rest period.
Stimulus Discrimination
The ability to distinguish between one stimulus and a similar stimulus
E.G., Satay chicken made you feel unweel so you avoid it, but you are still ok with eating other types of chicken.
Systematic Desensitisation
A form of behaviour therapy in which counterconditioning is used to reduce anxiety associated with a particular stimulus. Teaching of relaxation techniques.
E.G., a patient who is afraid of dogs will go through a gradual process of various levels of exposure - only once they are solidly and consistently comfortable can they move to a higher level. (Being in same room as dog. –> petting dog)
