Week 5: Classical Conditioning: Underlying Processes and Practical Applications Flashcards
Stimulus-Substitution Theory
CS acts as a substitute for the US
Preparatory-Response Theory
The purpose of the CR is to prepare the organism for the presentation of the US, allows for difference between UR and CR.
Compensatory-Reponse Model
A CS that has been repeatedly associated with the primary response (a-process) to an US will eventually come to elicit a compensatory response (b-process).
Ex: Heroin related cues -> increased blood pressure (homeostasis response to effects of heroin).
Rescorla-Wagner Theory
A given US can support only so much conditioning, and must be distributed among various CS that are present.
Associative Value.
Supports overshadowing and blocking.
Overexpectation Effect
The decrease in a CR that occurs when two separately conditioned CS are combined into a compound stimulus for further pairings with US. Cannot exceed certain associative value, therefore decrease their own to accommodate.
Other explanations for the Little Albert situation
- Pseudo conditioning (sensitization & unknown objects)
- Required more trials and weakened more than most phobias.
- Thumb-sucking preventing fear response indicating weak conditioning.
Temperment
An individuals level of emotional reacitivty - largely genetically determined.
Preparedness
Innate disposition to learn certain types of behaviours or certain types of associations more easily than others.
Incubation
Strengthening of a conditioned fear response as a result of brief exposure to an aversive CS.
US Revaluation in phobias
Different valued US can alter strength of response to previously CS.
Observational learning, or verbally transmitted information.
Ex: Minor injury from skateboarding = minor anxiety, car accident creating a major injury = strong anxiety with skateboarding. Past association of injury and skateboard has higher value now.
Selective Sensitization
Increase in one’s reactivity to a potentially fearful stimulus following exposure to an unrelated stressful event.
Counterconditioning
A CS that elicits one type of response is associated with an event that elicits an incompatible response.
Reciprocal Inhibition
Occurrence of one response can be inhibited by the occurrence of an incompatible response.
Systematic Desensitization
Behavioural treatment for phobias that involves pairing relaxation with a succession of stimuli that elicit increased levels of fear.
Flooding
A behavioural treatment that involves prolonged exposure to a feared stimulus, thereby providing maximal opportunity for the conditioned fear response to be extinguished.
