Classical Conditioning

Unit 3- Module 14 Notes

Definitions

• Learning: • A relatively permanent change in behavior

caused by experience

• Classical Conditioning• Type of learning in which a stimulus gains the

power to create a response

• Stimulus• Anything in the environment that one can

respond to

• Response• Any behavior or action

Classical Conditioning

• There are four main components to classical conditioning:• Unconditioned Stimulus (US)• Unconditioned Response (UR)• Conditioned Stimulus (CS)• Conditioned Response (CR)

Classical Conditioning

• Unconditioned Stimulus (US)• Stimulus that triggers an automatic and

reflexive response• Classical conditioning CANNOT happen

without an US• In the shower example, what is the US?

• Hot water

Classical Conditioning

• Unconditioned Response (UR)• The automatic response to the US• Relationship between the US and UR is

reflexive and automatic- it is NOT learned

• In the shower example, what is the UR?• Jumping out of the way of the hot water

Classical Conditioning

• Conditioned Stimulus (CS)• A previously neutral stimulus that ,

through learning, gains the power to cause a conditioned response

• Before classical conditioning takes place, the stimulus is considered a neutral stimulus

• In the shower example, what is the CS?• The word “Flush”

Classical Conditioning

• Conditioned Response (CR)• The response to the Conditioned

Stimulus• Is the same behavior that is identified

as the UR• In the shower example, what is the CR?

• Jumping out of the way of the hot water

Classical Conditioning

• Two basic processes in classical conditioning:• Acquisition

• Process of developing a learned response• Occurs when a neutral stimulus is

repeatedly paired with a US (called a trial)

• In the shower example, how would we know that acquisition has taken place?• When the word “Flush” is said and the

person jumps out of the way without the hot water being present

Classical Conditioning

• Extinction• Diminishing of a learned response after

repeated presentation of the CS by itself

• How could the CR of jumping out of the way in the shower become extinct?• Repeatedly yell “Flush” (CS) without

actually flushing the toilet• Since water wouldn’t get hot, learner

wouldn’t react to the CS

Classical Conditioning

• Two more terms:• Generalization

• Producing the same response to two similar stimuli

• Discrimination• Ability to distinguish between 2 signals

or stimuli and produce different responses

Classical Conditioning

• Aaron was sitting on a park bench licking a lollipop when he got stung in the ear by a bee. The sting produced a great deal of pain and, as a result, fear of bees. After the incident, Aaron began experiencing fear whenever he heard the buzzing sound of a bee.

Classical Conditioning

• In that scenario, what is the:• US?

• Pain from the sting

• UR?• Fear of bees

• CS?• Buzzing of bees

• CR?• Fear of bees

Classical Conditioning

• In the previous scenario, how might we observe generalization?• If Aaron displayed fear of all buzzing

insects

• If Aaron feared all buzzing insects at first, what would need to happen for us to observe discrimination?• Aaron showed the ability to not be

afraid of buzzing insects that did not produce painful stings

Classical Conditioning

Experiment #1• Observe the demonstration

• When complete, jot down the following:• US, UR, CS, CR, Generalization (if any),

Discrimination (if any), Extinction (if any), Acquisition (if any)

• Then, we will discuss as a class

Classical Conditioning

Experiment #1

Classical Conditioning

Experiment #1• Observe the demonstration

• When complete, jot down the following:• US, UR, CS, CR, Generalization (if any),

Discrimination (if any), Extinction (if any), Acquisition (if any)

• Then, we will discuss as a class

Classical Conditioning

• In the famous “Baby Albert” experiment, identify the:• US• UR• CS• CR• Generalization

Classical Conditioning

• Ivan Pavlov’s Experiment• Pavlov was conducting an experiment

on the role of saliva on digestion- the results of his experiment, however, became a benchmark in behavioral psychology!

Classical Conditioning

Classical Conditioning

• Pavlov’s experiment• The initial results of the experiment were a

success- the dog salivated when the meat was introduced

• After a period of time, however, the dog became familiar with the procedure and began to salivate before the meat arrived

• Pavlov decided to change his experiment and see if he could train the behavior of the dog by causing it to salivate to the sound of a tuning fork rather than the presence of meat

Classical Conditioning

• Using what we have discussed, CREATE Pavlov’s experiment

• Identify the US, UR, CS, CR

• Identify how acquisition would be produced

• Identify how extinction would be observed