Classical conditioning

Question 1

State the three assumptions of the behaviourist approach

Answer 1

1. Only observable and measurable behaviour should be studied
2. We are born as blank slates (Tabula Rasa)- there is no genetic influence on our behaviour
3. The basic processes that govern learning are the same in all species

Question 2

What is classical conditioning

Answer 2

Learning through association

Question 3

Name the psychologist who investigated classical conditioning

Answer 3

Ivan Pavlov

Question 4

How do you create a conditioned response

Answer 4

By repeatedly pairing a NS with an UCS

Question 5

What is the experiment that investigated classical conditioning

Answer 5

Pavlov’s dogs

Question 6

Identify the UCS, UCR, and NS in Pavlov’s dogs

Answer 6

UCS- food
UCR- salivating
NS- bell

Question 7

What does the neutral stimulus turn into after conditioning

Answer 7

The conditioned stimulus

Question 8

Outline the stages of Pavlov’s dogs

Answer 8

stage 1- food(UCS) = salivating(UCR)
stage 2- bell(NS) = no conditioned response
stage 3- food(UCS) + bell(NS) = salivating(UCR)
stage 4- bell(CS) = salivating (CR)

Question 9

Name the psychologists who carried out the Little Albert Study

Answer 9

Watson and Raynor (1920)

Question 10

Describe the study of Little Albert

Answer 10

• conditioned a 9 month old to have a phobia of white rats
• repeatedly paired the rat with a steel bar being struck
• Little Albert learnt to associate the loud noise with the white rat resulting in a learnt response of fear to the white rat which is now the CS.