Learning theories

Question 1

Explain classical conditioning. (4 marks)

Who came up with it?

Answer 1

• Classical conditioning is the process by which new reflexes are learnt.
• An unconditioned stimulus is the original stimulus that causes the reflex (unconditioned response) without any learning.
• A neutral stimulus that causes no reflexive behaviour is paired with the unconditioned sitmulus several times.
• Eventually the neutral stimulus leads to a reflexive response because it has been associated with the unconditioned stimulus.

Through Pavlov’s findings in his experiment with dogs, John Watson proposed that classical conditioning was able to explain all aspects of human psychology.

Question 2

Outline Pavlov’s experiment with dogs and identify the UCS, UCR, NS, CS, CR.

Answer 2

• Food was first presented to the dog, being the original stimulus. It triggered a natural response, which was the salivation of the dog.
• Then, a bell was rung as the neutral stimulus, right before the food was presented to the dog. It naturally would not trigger or cause a reflexive response.
• After a number of repeats of this procedure, the bell was then rung on its own. The dog responded to the ringing of the bell by salivating, which was the reflexive response of the original unconditioned stimulus.
• This happened because the dog had associated the ringing of the bell with the presentation of food, and this caused him to adopt the same reflexive response to both stimuli.

UCS- presentation of food, UCR- salivation, NS- bell ringing, CS- bell ringing, CR- salivation

Question 3

Define the terms:

1. Stimulus generalisation
2. Extinction
3. Spontaneous recovery

Answer 3

1- When a neutral stimulus similar to the conditioned stimulus elicits the same conditioned response.

2- The disappearance of a previously conditioned response when the conditioned stimulus is no longer associated with the unconditioned stimulus.

3- The return of a conditioned response to a conditioned stimulus after previously being extinguished.