1. Learning Approaches to Personality Basic assumptions: 1.Changes in behavior occur in predictable ways 2.Personality is formed by person’s unique history 3.Objectivity and rigor in testing are crucial 4.Situational specificity

2. Ivan Pavlov – classical conditioning Classical conditioning = type of learning in which a neutral stimulus acquires the capacity to evoke a response that was originally associated with another stimulus Digestion in dogs Tone = neutral stimulus (became conditioned stimulus)

3. Classical conditioning Two necessary conditions: 1.Reflexive response 2.Stimulus that elicits response must be associated in time and place with another stimulus Unconditioned stimulus (UCS) Unconditioned response (UCR) Conditioned stimulus (CS) Conditioned response (CR)

4. Classical conditioning extended Discrimination – being able to tell stimuli apart (i.e. discriminate) Generalization – responding to different stimuli in a similar way These two processes are complementary Extinction Higher order conditioning – CS-CR pair can serve as an UCS-UCR for more classical conditioning

5. Emotional conditioning = classical conditioning in which the CRs are emotional reactions Accounts for likes and dislikes, preferences and biases from this perspective

6. Phobias Phobia = intense fear that is not justified Systematic desensitization 1.Extinction –Role of avoidance 2.Counterconditioning Step 1: taught to relax body (incompatible “emotion) Step 2: develop anxiety hierarchy Step 3: relax completely, visualize lowest item on hierarchy, allow anxiety to dissipate Step 4: move to next level and repeat