PSYCHOLOGY UNIT 4 CLASSICAL CONDITIONING

Neutral Stimulus

A Stimulus which prior to the conditioning does not evoke a response, i.e the conditioned response before it becomes conditioned i.e bell, horn

Classical Conditioning Process (Pavlov's Dog)

Baseline The unconditioned response (food) naturally evokes an automatically occurring unconditioned response ( Saliva production) The neutral stimulus (bell) does not lead to any type of response (dog does not react) Acquisition Phase The neutral stimulus (Bell) is paired with the unconditioned stimulus (Food), this leads to an association between the bell and the food Dues to the association, the conditioned stimulus (bell) triggers a controlled response (saliva production) After Conditioning The conditioned stimulus (Bell) produces a conditioned response (Saliva production) The conditioned stimulus should produce a conditioned response even when there is no food.

Conditioned Stimulus

Is a stimulus that is neutral at the start of the conditioning process and does not normally produce an unconditioned response, but through repeated association with unconditioned stimulus triggers the same response as the unconditioned stimulus.

Conditional Response

Is behaviour which is similar but not necessarily the same as the unconditioned response , that is triggered by the conditioned stimulus after conditioning

Extinction

Is the repeated presentation of the conditioned stimulus (bell) with no pairing with the unconditioned stimulus (food) until salivation stops when presented with conditioned response

Unconditioned Response

Occurs automatically when unconditioned stimulus is presented, it is a reflective, involuntary i.e does not require any learning

Spontaneous Recovery

The sudden reappearance of a learned response after extinction has occurred, and after a rest, when the conditioned stimulus is again presented

Classical Conditioning

A learning situation which a certin stimulus (UCS) that naturally eokes a specific, automatic and uncontrolled response is paired over a series of trials with a neutral stimulus e.g bell, buzzer, duck

Flooding

A psychotherapeutic method for overcoming phobias, the patient is exposed to the conditioned stimulus at its worst and then the conditioned response is lowered or not existent. COMPARISON FLOODING AND GRADUATED EXPOSURE Similarities: Both use classical conditioning Both expose patients to fear-evoking stimulus Differences Flooding initially exposes patients to the most fear-evoking stimulus Systematic desensitisation uses relaxations strategies, flooding doesn't

Graduated Exposure

A technique used to treat a phobia, treatment involves a gradual process where a therapist presents successive approximations of the conditioned stimulus until a conditioned response is nolonger evoked e.g. spider The paticient then creates a list of fear producing situations that are similar to the conditioned stimulus its self andm creates a fear hirachy based on scores assigned to each simulus 100 = Most frightening 1 = Least frightening

Unconditioned Stimulus

Any stimulus which produces an automatic response e.g salivating when you smell food (unconditioned conditioned response)

Aversion Therapy

Uses classical conditioning to reduce or eliminate unwanted behaviour by pairing unpleasant response with unwanted behaviour Drug that makes people feel ill when alcohol is mixed LIMITATIONS Ethical considerations - Psychological or physical harm Overgeneralization - avoiding drink of all types of liquids instead of alcohol Extinction without repeated administration