classical conditioning

Question 1

what does classical conditioning state

Answer 1

Classical conditioning is the simplest form of associative learning that takes place when we associate two stimuli with one another.
Classical conditioning was discovered by Ivan Pavlov in 1927.

Question 2

classical conditioning - P1, A01

Answer 2

Classical conditioning takes place when two stimuli are repeatedly paired together – an unconditioned stimulus (UCS) and a new neutral stimulus (NS).
This takes place in three stages: 1. Before conditioning – a UCS triggers a reflex response such as salivation, anxiety or sexual arousal, this is an unconditioned response (UCR). An unrelated NS does not produce this response.
During conditioning – the UCS and NS are experienced close together in time (pairing).
The effect of pairing is greatest when the NS occurs just before the UCS.
Usually pairing has to take place for conditioning to occur.
After conditioning – following pairing the NS produces the same response as the UCS.
The NS is now a conditioned stimulus (CS) an the response is a conditioned response (CR).

Question 3

strength of classical conditioning - P1, A03

Answer 3

One strength of classical conditioning is that there is support from animal and human studies.
Pavlov showed how dogs could be classically conditioned to salivate in response to a sound. Watson and Rayner also showed a fear response could be conditioned in a human baby.
Therefore, this is important because it means there is firm evidence supporting the existence of classical conditioning in human and animal learning.

Question 4

COUNTER ARGUMENT TO strength of classical conditioning - P1, A03

Answer 4

However, some of Pavlov’s details of classical conditioning are open to question.
For example, he believed that the essential factor linking the NS to the UCS was contiguity – the two stimuli occurring close together in time.
Therefore, this means that classical conditioning may not fully explain how learning through association takes place.

Question 5

extinction - P2, A01

Answer 5

Extinction is when a conditioned stimulus no longer produces a conditioned response.
When a CS is experience without the UCS over a period of time the CR is extinguished.
This extinction of responses has survival value because it means that our learning is flexible – for example, we can learn to stop fearing something that has been conditioned as a fear stimulus but which poses little danger.

Question 6

spontaneous recovery - P3, A01

Answer 6

Spontaneous recovery is when an extinct response activates again so that the CS once again elicits the CR. This can happen without new pairings with the UCS. Generally, such responses are weaker than the original ones.
An example of this is that we are conditioned to salivate at the sight of chocolate wrappers but go through a period of having chocolate unwrapped for you and not seeing the wrappers.
One may then see wrappers and not respond to them but you do not completely unlearn the salivation response, so one day you might dribble a bit when you see a wrapper.

Question 7

stimulus generalisation - P4, A01

Answer 7

Stimulus generalisation is when an individual who has acquired a conditioned response to one stimulus begins to respond to similar stimuli in the same way. An example of this is if one salivates at a chocolate wrapper, we might also drool at the sight of other wrappers.

Question 8

application of classical conditioning - P5, A03

Answer 8

One strength of classical conditioning is the application for the basis of aversion therapy.
For example, aversion therapy is used to treat people who have an unwanted behaviour such as experiencing sexual arousal to a photograph of a young child.
A painful electric shock (UCS) is paired with the photograph (NS).
The shock produces a response of discomfort (UCR). The NS becomes a CS and also produces a sensation of discomfort.
Therefore, this shows that classically conditioning is practically useful to psychologists as well as being of theoretical interest.