Question

Answer the bottom in 1-2 paragraphs

• Classical conditioning is a learned behavior where previously neutral response elicits an unconditioned response and become a conditioned stimulus. For example, food is a biological unconditional stimuli which produces unconditional response i.e Salivation. When food is paired with a whistle, it elicits salivation. When whistle is shown alone, it induces salivation. At this point the neutral stimulus has become conditioned stimulus and is producing unconditioned response.

• In higher order conditioning, a previously neutral stimulus when paired with conditioned stimulus produces the same response as conditioned stimulus. For example, a whistle acts as conditioned stimuli and produces an unconditioned response. When whistle is paired with light, it produces salivation. Next, light alone can produce salvation.  

1. Describe the process of classical conditioning

2. Draw a diagram using the examples

3. Give an example

4. Label all the components and provide definitions

Answer 1

Classical conditioning is a form of learning whereby a conditioned stimulus (CS) becomes associated with an unrelated unconditioned stimulus (US) in order to produce a behavioral response known as a conditioned response (CR). The conditioned response is the learned response to the previously neutral stimulus. The unconditioned stimulus is usually a biologically significant stimulus such as food or pain that elicits an unconditioned response (UR) from the start. The conditioned stimulus is usually neutral and produces no particular response at first, but after conditioning it elicits the conditioned response.

If we look at Pavlov’s experiment, we can identify the four factors of classical conditioning at work:

The unconditioned response was the dogs’ natural salivation in response to seeing or smelling their food.

The unconditioned stimulus was the sight or smell of the food itself.

The conditioned stimulus was the ringing of the bell, which previously had no association with food.

The conditioned response, therefore, was the salivation of the dogs in response to the ringing of the bell, even when no food was present.

Another example-

Extinction is the decrease in the conditioned response when the unconditioned stimulus is no longer presented with the conditioned stimulus

Spontaneous recovery refers to the return of a previously extinguished conditioned response following a rest period. Research has found that with repeated extinction/recovery cycles, the conditioned response tends to be less intense with each period of recovery.