1. Classical Conditioning
Learning: Principles & Applications

2. Classical Conditioning

3. Classical Conditioning
Learning: A relatively permanent change in behavioral tendency that results from experience
Definition: a learning procedure in which associations are made between a neutral stimulus and an unconditioned stimulus
This was discovered accidentally by PAVLOV

4. Classical Conditioning
Neutral Stimulus: a stimulus that does not initially elicit any part of an unconditioned response (for Pavlov a bell)
Unconditioned Stimulus (US): an event that elicits a certain predictable response typically without previous training (for Pavlov the food)
A dog doesn’t need to be taught to salivate when it smells meat
Unconditioned Response (UR): an organism’s automatic (or natural) reaction to a stimulus
Think REFLEX

5. Classical Conditioning
Conditioned Stimulus (CS): a once neutral event that elicits a given response after a period of training in which it has been paired with (occurred just before) an unconditioned stimulus
Conditioned Response (CR): reaction to the conditioned stimulus

6. Classical Conditioning

7. Classical Conditioning
Helps animals and adults adapt to environments
Avoiding danger
Acquisition of classical conditioning occurs gradually
The more often a CS & US are paired, the conditioned response (CR) is strengthened

8. Generalization and Discrimination
Generalization: responding similarly to a range of stimuli
Discrimination: the ability to respond differently to a stimuli

9. Generalization and Discrimination

10. Extinction & Spontaneous Recovery
Extinction: the gradual disappearance of a conditioned response when the conditioned stimulus is repeatedly presented without the unconditioned stimulus
Doesn’t mean its gone forever
With a rest period the CR (saliva) can return when the CS (bell) when not followed by a US (food)
This is called spontaneous recovery

11. Classical Conditioning
Human Behavior

12. Human Behavior John B. Watson Little Albert
Now considered unethical because it taught a child to fear something he originally had no fear of

13. Taste Aversions

14. Taste Aversions
People usually write it off to “It must have been something I ate” even if they haven’t eaten for hours
Psychologists can predict which part of your new meal will be the conditioned stimulus
How can we apply this to help humans?

15. Behaviorism Classical Conditioning is an example of behaviorism
The attempt to understand behavior in terms of relationships between observable stimuli and observable responses