Cognition: Classical Conditioning Flashcards

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1
Q

Classical Conditioning (simple definition)

A

Learning through association between two stimuli.

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2
Q

Classical Conditioning (detailed definition)

A

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

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3
Q

Procedure

A
  • Before conditioning
  • Acquisition Stage: contiguous approach
  • After conditioning
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4
Q

Before Conditioning

A

The UCS causes UCR, but the NS causes no response

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5
Q

Acquisition Stage

A

Repeated pairings form an association between an unconditioned stimulus and a neutral stimulus. A contiguous approach must be used.

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6
Q

Contiguous Approach

A

UCS and NS must occur close to each other in time and space to become associated

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7
Q

After Conditioning

A

The NS is now a conditioned stimulus (CS) and when presented alone will elicit conditioned response (CR)

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8
Q

Steps of Acquisition

A
  1. UCS —> UCR
  2. NS —> no response
  3. UCS + NS —> UCR
  4. CS —> CR
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9
Q

Pavlov’s Experiment

A
  1. UCS (food) —> UCR (salivation)
  2. NS (bell) —> no response
  3. NS (bell) + UCS (food) —> UCR (salivation)
  4. CS (bell) —> UCR (salivation)
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10
Q

Factors Influencing whether conditioning can occur

A
  • 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
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11
Q

Elements of Classical Conditioning

A
  • Stimulus discrimination
  • Stimulus generalisation
  • Extinction
  • Spontaneous recovery
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12
Q

Stimulus discrimination

A

The ability to perceive the difference between stimuli

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13
Q

Stimulus Generalisation

A

Stimuli similar in nature will elicit the same response (e.g. Little Albert)

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14
Q

Extinction

A

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.

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15
Q

Spontaneous Recovery

A

Reappearance of CR after extinction when presented with CS

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16
Q

Watson’s Experiment

A
  1. UCS (hammer hits metal bar) —> UCR (crying)
  2. NS (rat) —> no response
  3. NS (rat) + UCS (hammer) —> UCR (crying)
  4. CS (rat) —> CR (crying)
17
Q

Little Albert’s Generalisation

A
  • It was found that Little Albert developed phobias of objects that shared characteristics with the rat
  • He was shown a white dog, a Father Christmas mask and a woollen coat
18
Q

Ethical Issues with Watson

A
  • psychological or physiological harm
  • parental consent (coerced)
  • withdrawal rights
  • No debriefing of parent
  • No desensitisation occurred
  • Published results without permission or anonymity
19
Q

Strengths of Classical Conditioning

A
  • use of experimental method
  • provides strong counter argument for nurture in nature/nurture debate
  • Many practical applications
20
Q

Limitations of Classical Conditioning

A
  • belief that behaviourists ignore innate bias in learning
  • animals used in experiments cannot be generalised to humans
  • behaviourism ignored important mental processes in learning
21
Q

Everyday Application: Car Commercial

A
  • Cialdini (2008)
  • Men who viewed a car commercial with an attractive model later rated the car better than those who saw the same commercial without the model