Download Edexcel AS learning approach classical conditioning

UNIT 2:The Learning
Approach
Classical Conditioning
Aim
• To DESCRIBE the main features of
classical conditioning as an
explanation of how we learn.
What is classical conditioning?
• Classical conditioning is learning through
association and was discovered by
Pavlov, a Russian physiologist.
• Assumes learning is passive and is
based on reflex behaviours that all
humans and animals have.
What is classical conditioning?
• It involves learning to associate a stimulus
which brings about a response with a new
stimulus so that it also brings about the
same response.
• TASK – try to think of some naturally
occurring responses or reflexes in humans
and/or animals.
Pavlov’s experiments
• Whilst investigating the gastric function of
dogs Pavlov noticed that the dogs had
started to anticipate the arrival of food on
hearing Pavlov’s footsteps and were
producing more saliva.
One of Pavlov’s dogs with
cheek tube attached
Laboratory apparatus
Watch this …..
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CpoLxE
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Key Terms – complete these on
your glossary.
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Neutral Stimulus (NS)
Unconditioned Stimulus (UCS)
Unconditioned Response (UCR)
Conditioned Stimulus (CS)
Conditioned Response (CR)
Extinction
Spontaneous recovery
Generalisation
Discrimination
Neutral Stimulus (NS)
• Something in the environment which does
not initially cause a response.
• E.g a dog would not normally salivate in
response to a bell
Unconditioned Stimulus (UCS)
• Anything that naturally has the power to
produce a response in a human or animal.
• For example, the smell of food.
Unconditioned Response (UCR)
• A natural reflex response to an
unconditioned stimulus.
• For example, salivation in response to the
presence of food.
Conditioned Stimulus CS
• The neutral stimulus becomes the
conditioned stimulus when it acquires the
ability to produce a specific response in
the human or animal.
• For example the bell.
Conditioned Response (CR)
• A learnt response to something that
doesn’t naturally have the power to
produce a response in a human or animal.
• For example, salivating to the sound of a
bell.
The process of classical
conditioning
Classical conditioning in
humans
Dr Vernon Coleman’s casebook.
The People newspaper, 16 January
2000.
My boyfriend and I made love every
night for two months with Barry White
on continuous play. Now whenever
either of us hears the music we
become sexually aroused. Why does
this happen?
Q: Explain the couple’s experience in
terms of classical conditioning.
Q: Give an example of how a more
serious sexual fetish might be
acquired by classical conditioning.
Some more key terms – complete
definitions for these on your learning
approach glossary.
• Extinction
• Spontaneous Recovery
• Discrimination
• Generalisation
Extinction
• When the CR declines and disappears
because the CS is repeatedly presented in
the absence of the UCS.
• For example, when the bell is presented
repeatedly without food present the
salivation will eventually disappear.
Spontaneous recovery
• When the CR reappears in a weakened
form in response to the CS.
• For example, the bell is rung some time
later and the dog will salivate a little.
Generalisation
• When stimuli similar to the CS produce the
CR.
• For example, the dog will salivate to
stimuli similar to bells such as the door
bell.
Discrimination
• The CR is only produced in response to
the CS and not to similar stimuli.
• For example, the dog will only salivate in
response to the specific bell it has been
conditioned with.
TASK
• Now complete the work sheet on classical
conditioning.