Cognition: Classical Conditioning Flashcards
Classical Conditioning (simple definition)
Learning through association between two stimuli.
Classical Conditioning (detailed definition)
A learning situation in which an unconditioned stimulus (UCS) that naturally evokes a specific automatic unconditioned response (UCR), is paired over a series of trials with a neutral stimulus (NS) that does not usually produce this response
Procedure
- Before conditioning
- Acquisition Stage: contiguous approach
- After conditioning
Before Conditioning
The UCS causes UCR, but the NS causes no response
Acquisition Stage
Repeated pairings form an association between an unconditioned stimulus and a neutral stimulus. A contiguous approach must be used.
Contiguous Approach
UCS and NS must occur close to each other in time and space to become associated
After Conditioning
The NS is now a conditioned stimulus (CS) and when presented alone will elicit conditioned response (CR)
Steps of Acquisition
- UCS —> UCR
- NS —> no response
- UCS + NS —> UCR
- CS —> CR
Pavlov’s Experiment
- UCS (food) —> UCR (salivation)
- NS (bell) —> no response
- NS (bell) + UCS (food) —> UCR (salivation)
- CS (bell) —> UCR (salivation)
Factors Influencing whether conditioning can occur
- UCR must be an involuntary response over which individual cannot control
- UCS should be stimulus that evokes response with no requisite learning
- Contiguous approach to pairing of UCS and NS
- Pairing needs to be repeated
Elements of Classical Conditioning
- Stimulus discrimination
- Stimulus generalisation
- Extinction
- Spontaneous recovery
Stimulus discrimination
The ability to perceive the difference between stimuli
Stimulus Generalisation
Stimuli similar in nature will elicit the same response (e.g. Little Albert)
Extinction
Termination of CR if it is not enforced and the UCS is removed, causing the association to be broken. The CS eventually fails to elicit CR.
Spontaneous Recovery
Reappearance of CR after extinction when presented with CS