Classical Conditioning Classical Conditioning: associations are made between a natural stimulus and a learned neutral stimulus. Pavlov experiments were the first, or “classical” of this learned behavior, giving the condition its name. First demonstrated by Ivan Pavlov

Ivan Pavlov First love: physiology Investigated psychological processes Looked into areas such as mental disorders, aging process, and personality types Research on conditioning set foundation for different types of behavior therapy that would become important in the future Early experimental discoveries led to major advances in understanding animal and human relationships 1904 Nobel Prize

Pavlov Experiment Original goal in experiments was to gain insight to the digestive system Surgically separated stomach from esophagus in dogs Proved food taken by mouth never reaches stomach Food must go through mouth to reach stomach Salivation at time of eating is critical to proper digestion While no food placed in dog’s mouth, it would still salivate at the site of food. Sight of feeder would cause the animal to salivate even if there was no food. Receiving food can be associated with presence of feeder.

Steps of Classical Conditioning Start with natural stimulus(meat for dog) and response(salivation). Behavior is automatic. No special conditions are needed for meat to cause salivation. Need unconditioned stimulus(food) and response(salivation). Neutral stimulus(sight of feeder causing salivation) occurs. When association eventually occurs, conditioned stimulus is enabled. Eventually the response to conditioned stimulus will happen on its own, which creates a conditioned response.

John B. Watson Psychologist Worked with lab rats Concluded that, on human level, deep emotions are the result of association and learning.

Watson Experiment #1 Took rats to become pets Taught rats tricks Elaborate mazes Could solve problems(dig thru obstacles, etc.) Act as workers digging thru tunnels Based on experiments, decided rats behavior resulted from more than stimuli and responses vs. pure intelligence.

Watson Experiment #2 Watson used child of colleague to test the experiment. Put white lab rat in a room with child, creating a bond between the two. While child was playing, Watson created a startling noise. Child fell forward and wept. Next time child reached for rat, he became afraid.

Watson Experiments #2 Cont. Attempted for one human to spread fear from one object to another. Would demonstrate that emotions are mechanically induced. Caused conflict due to the questioning of the experiment’s ethicality. Fear happens automatically, not learned. Sudden loudness: unconditioned stimulus

Watson Conclusion Watson demonstrated stimulus generalization Process in which a response spreads from one stimulus to additional stimuli that resembles the original. Repeated experiment with rabbit to prove the theory. Conditioning of emotions to neutral object is possible. Conditioned emotion can relate to other objects that have similar characteristics. No evidence on how long such conditioned emotions will last.

Mary Clover Jones A student of Watson, she wondered if she could reverse the procedure and cure a child of terrible fear. Picked 3 year old with fear of rabbits. Brought rabbit into room with child close enough for the child to see it and gave food to child. Continued to move the rabbit closer and gave more food to child. Associated the pleasure of food with the feared object. Child lost fear of rabbits.

Extinction Examples of Extinction: Stop pairing something with a frightening noise, fear towards object will go away. Pavlov dogs would extinguish salivation. Once extinction occurs, it’s not necessarily permanent. Spontaneous recovery: response will reappear for unknown reasons.

Removal of Fears Phobia: fear Associating something pleasant w/ a feared object is still used successfully today to reduce or stop fears.