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6/18/2012 1:32:00 PM

Module 17: Classical Conditioning

Learning- What do you think learning is?

Associative Learning- Classical Conditioning, Operant Conditioning,

Observational Learning

Learning- a relatively permanent change in an organisms behavior due to

experience

History of Ivan Pavlov (1849-1943)

-Connected to behaviorism

-Early years, received MD when he was 33 years old, won Nobel Prize when

dealing with digestive system of the dog (show dogs food, they will salivate)

-Accidental Discovery

-Experiment, attached an apparatus to a dogs mouth, paired food and tone

to showing dog, automatically salivated, even if one DV was not there

Components of Classical Conditioning:

The Unconditioned Association Unconditioned Stimulus (UCS)- Stimulus that naturally and

automatically triggers a natural response.

Unconditioned Response (UCR)- Unlearned natural response tonatural stimuli. (ex- hit hammer on knee- knee-jerk)

The Conditioned Association

Conditioned Stimulus (CS)- Formally the neutral stimulus since byitself does not evoke a response. After paired with the

unconditional stimulus, triggers the conditional response.

Conditioned Response (CR)- Learned response to previously neutralconditioned stimulus.

Other Key Concepts

Acquisition- The initial learning of the stimulus-responserelationship

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Extinction- Diminished responding that occurs when the CS nolonger signals an impending US

Spontaneous Recovery- When an association is acquired orextinguished and some time has passed without the CS and then

when the CS is presented, the CR reappears. Generalization- The tendency to respond to similar stimuli. Ex-

abused woman, dogs

Discrimination- The learned ability to discriminate betweenconditioned stimulus and other irrelevant stimuli. Ex- traffic lights,

cats