The End of

1
The End of

• Classical Conditioning!!

2
That brings us to WHY does Classical Conditioning
exist?

• Perhaps it is there to help get us ready for
  things that are going to happen!
• Preparatory Response Theory
• The purpose of the CR is to prepare the organism
  for the presentation of the US
• Sometimes the CR can be different, or even the
  opposite of the UR

3
Can the CR be opposite from the UR?

• Example UCR to a shock is usually an increased
  heart rate. If you pair that shock with a light,
  the light will generally elicit a decreased heart
  rate
• Why do you think this happens . . . I dont know
  . . . Could it be . . .

4
Yes! The Opponent Process Theory!!

• The Compensatory Response Model
• Compensatory after-reactions to a US may come to
  be elicited by a CS
• Purpose of this is probably to maintain
  homeostasis in the body
• Remember Opponent Process Theory!
• There are LOTS of practical implications for this
  theory

5
Drug Tolerance

• Some CSs (neutral stimuli) begin to signal that
  the drug is coming
• Therefore, when you see these CSs, your heart
  rate lowers, etc., thus moderating the effects of
  the drug (once you ingest it)
• Can you think of some examples of some CSs for
  alcohol or drug use?

6
Evidence for this theory

• McCusker and Brown 1990
• Alcohol-expected vs. alcohol-unexpected
  environments (e.g. drinking at the office vs.
  drinking in a bar)
• Implications for drinking and driving
• Implications for drug overdose fatalities
• Keep in mind, this isnt always the case
• Sometimes, the CSs seem to strengthen the effects
  of the drugs

7
Practical Applications Phobias

• An adaptive response run amok
• Watson and Rayner Little Albert
• Difficulty in conditioning Albert
• Ethics of conditioning Albert

8
Additional Factors Affecting Conditioning

• Observational Learning
• Ex. Dr. McCarty at the Grand Canyon
• Temperament Note Even Watson thought this
  genetic factor was important!
• Ex. Hilary McCarty as a baby going to parties
• Preparedness
• Species are genetically prepared to learn certain
  associations more easily than others
• Ex. Dr. McCartys aquatic frogs

9
More factors affecting conditioning

• History of Control
• Having control lessens traumatic effects
  encountering scary stimuli
• Incubation
• Conditioned fear responses can be strengthened by
  repeated, brief exposures to an aversive CR
• Ex. A childs fear of dogs or a teenage boys
  fear of girls
• Selective Sensitization
• An increase in reactivity following exposure to
  an unrelated stressful event (e.g. stress during
  divorce makes a mild fear worse)

10
Biological Basis

• Phobias, anxiety, panic, and obsessive compulsive
  disorders have a similar basis
• Simple experiment with tone paired with shock
• After the tone, the amygdala sends a signal
  activating the body (heart, blood pressure,
  stomach, etc.)
• A Conditioned Response!
• Feedback loop with Hippocampus makes memories
  very strong
• Primitive, deeply wired
• Sometimes helpful, sometimes not!

11
Treating Phobias

• Systematic Desensitization
• Why does it work?
• Counterconditioning (Wolpe)
• Reciprocal Inhibition
• Led to use of deep muscle relaxation
• Others say it is just extinction
• Probably, both processes are part of why it works
• Imaginal vs. In vivo

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Flooding

• A treatment involving prolonged exposure to a
  feared stimulus, thereby allowing it to
  extinguish
• Imaginal vs. In vivo
• Aversion Therapy for alcoholism, smoking, etc.
• Single-session treatment with participant
  modeling
• Exposure-based treatments most popular
• Uses participant modeling

13
Medical Applications

• Allergic reactions
• Immune system functioning
• Immunosuppression
• Chemotherapy administered in a hospital setting
• Gulf War Syndrome