Classical Conditioning

Learning→ a relatively durable change in behavior or knowledge that is due to experience Classical conditioning, Operant conditioning, Observational learning Associative learning→ learning that certain events occur together→ events may be two stimuli (as in classical conditioning) or a response and its consequences (as in operant conditioning)

Classical Conditioning Classical conditioning (Pavlovian conditioning)→ a type of learning in which a stimulus acquires the capacity to evoke a response that was originally evoked by another stimulus; organism comes to associate stimuli Examples- Pavlov’s experiment, phobias

Unconditioned stimulus (UCS) → stimulus that evokes an unconditioned response without previous conditioning→ naturally and automatically triggers a response Pavlov example Meyer’s example

Unconditioned response (UCR) → unlearned reaction to unlearned stimulus that occurs without previous conditioning→ naturally occurring response to an unconditioned stimulus Pavlov example Meyer’s example

Conditioned stimulus (CS) → a previously neutral stimulus that has, through conditioning, acquired the capacity to evoke a conditioned response→ by association with an unconditioned stimulus it comes to trigger a conditioned response Pavlov example Meyer’s example

Conditioned response (CR) → learned reaction to a conditioned stimulus that occurs because of previous conditioning→ learned response to a previously neutral CS Pavlov example Meyer’s example

Basic Processes in Classical Conditioning Acquisition: Forming New Responses Acquisition→ the initial stage of learning something Phase when a neutral stimulus is associated with an unconditioned stimulus so that the neutral stimulus comes to elicit a conditioned response Generally speaking, the CS must come before the UCS for conditioning to occur (there are a few exceptions) Stimuli that are novel, unusual or especially intense have more potential to become CSs than routine stimuli, probably because they are more likely to stand out among other stimuli

Extinction: Weakening Conditioned Responses Extinction→ the gradual weakening and disappearance of a conditioned response tendency The consistent presentation of the conditioned stimulus alone without the unconditioned stimulus leads to extinction Length of time to extinguish a conditioned response depends on a number of factors, but particularly on the strength of the conditioned bond when extinction begins Some CSs extinguish quickly, others are difficult to weaken

Spontaneous Recovery: Resurrecting Responses Spontaneous recovery→ the reappearance of an extinguished response after a period of non-exposure to the conditioned stimulus Renewal effect→ if a response is extinguished from in a different environment than it was acquired, the extinguished response will reappear if the animal is returned to the original environment where acquisition took place Extinction does not appear to lead to unlearning→ it somehow suppresses a conditioned response rather than erasing a learned association

Stimulus Generalization and the Case of Little Albert C:\Documents and Settings\Owner\My Documents\UltraGet\YouTube\O "Pequeno Albert" de Watson.mp4

Stimulus generalization→ occurs when an organism that has learned a response to a particular stimulus responds in the same way to new stimuli that are similar to the original stimulus The more similar new stimuli are to the original CS, the greater the generalization.

Stimulus discrimination→ occurs when an organism that has learned a response to a specific stimulus does not respond in the same way to new stimuli that are similar to the original stimulus; ability to distinguish between a conditioned stimulus and other stimuli that do not signal an unconditioned stimulus Development of stimulus discrimination usually requires that the conditioned stimulus continues to be paired with the unconditioned stimulus (UCS), while similar stimuli not be paired with the UCS The less similar new stimuli are to the original CS, the greater the likelihood (and ease) of discrimination.

Higher order conditioning→ conditioning in which a conditioned stimulus functions as if it were an unconditioned stimulus