Classical Conditioning

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Classical Conditioning
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Background

• Classical Conditioning The type of learning in
  which a stimulus acquires the capacity to evoke
  the response initially evoked by another stimulus
• an item creates a response it wouldnt normally
  cause through pairing
• Introduction Clip
• http//www.youtube.com/watch?vznAzMkn5Ey0

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Pavlovs Discovery of Classical Conditioning

• Ivan Pavlov
• Conducted research on digestion, specifically
  role of saliva in digestion process of dogs.
• Pavlov presented meat (powder) to dogs, preceded
  by a clicking sound to alert them of the food.
• Over time, dogs salivated in response to clicking
  sound.

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• Pavlov further investigated phenomenon
• Presented meat with a tone (bell)
• After several pairings, he presented bell alone
  to dogs
• What happened?
• What is the significance of his research?

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Classical Conditioning Terminology

• 1.) Unconditioned Stimulus (US)- The stimulus
  that evokes a natural response.
• Pavlov Ex.)
• 2.) Unconditioned Response (UR)- The natural
  reaction to the unconditioned stimulus.
• Pavlov Ex.)

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Classical Conditioning Terminology

• 3.) Conditioned Stimulus (CS)- Previously neutral
  stimulus that, through conditioning, evokes
  conditioned response.
• Pavlov Ex.)
• 4.) Conditioned Response (CR)- Learned reaction
  to conditioned stimulus that occurs because of
  previous conditioning
• Usually the same as UR
• Pavlov Ex.)

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Process Review
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Trials

• Trials- Presentations of the stimuli (US and CS)
  together
• Pavlov Ex.)
• The Office Ex.)
• Number of trials needed for classical
  conditioning to occur varies

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More examples

• The Office
• US-
• UR-
• CS-
• CR-

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More Examples

• Shower Example
• US-
• UR-
• CS-
• CR-

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Conditioned Fear and Anxiety

• Many of our phobias and fears are direct result
  of classical conditioning
• Examples
• Bridge Phobia
• Taco Bell
• Class Examples

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Other Conditioned Responses

• May be conditioned to associate stimulus with
  positive feelings
• Examples
• Cotton candy ice cream
• Classical conditioning could even play a role in
  sexual arousal
• Example
• Seinfeld clip
• http//www.youtube.com/watch?vvLKhJnKrf9M

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Processes in classical conditioning

• 1.) Acquisition- This term refers to the learning
  of the conditioned response
• 2.) Extinction This refers to a gradual
  weakening and disappearance of conditioned
  response
• How does this usually occur?

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Processes in classical conditioning

• 3.) Spontaneous Recovery- After extinction, a
  response may spontaneously reappear.
• Real World Examples

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Stimulus Generalization

• Stimulus Generalization An organism that has
  learned a response to a specific stimuli responds
  in same way to stimuli that are similar to
  original stimulus.
• Clown Example
• John B. Watson study
• Little Albert- 11 month old
• Conditioned to fear bunnies

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• Class examples, if time permits