Download classical conditioning Study Sheet

Psychology 1110 Study Sheet
Classical Conditioning
Automatic or Voluntary?
Your first question in analyzing a behavior should be whether the behavior is an automatic reflex or a voluntary
choice. An automatic reflex is just that: It is triggered automatically by a stimulus and the subject has no control
over the response. In most cases, this type of behavior is easy to spot. However, there are a few examples of
voluntary behavior that might look like reflexes at first glance. One example is nail biting. Most people who bite
their nails will say that the behavior occurs without them noticing it. But this does not make the behavior an
automatic reflex. Nail biting is a voluntary behavior (it can be initiated and stopped on command) that is repeated so
often that it begins to occur without much deliberate thought. It appears to be automatic, but not in the same way as
an automatic reflex, which cannot be controlled through voluntary choice.
Once you have determined that you are dealing with an automatic reflex, you can analyze the behavior according to
the three steps of classical conditioning:
Step 1: Unconditioned Reflex
An unconditioned reflex is an unlearned, automatic behavior. That is, it is a reflex “built in” to the subject’s nervous
system. Usually these types of reflexes have survival value in the right context.
Unconditioned Stimulus (UCS)  Unconditioned Response (UCR)
Step 2: Conditioning
During the process of conditioning (also called acquisition), a new stimulus (called the conditioned stimulus) is
paired with the UCS to create a learned association between the CS and the UCS. Usually, but not always, learning
will require multiple pairings of the CS and the UCS to form a strong association.
Conditioned Stimulus (CS)
+
Unconditioned Stimulus (UCS)  Unconditioned Response (UCR)
The response is still called “unconditioned” during conditioning because it is triggered by the Unconditioned
Stimulus. We have no evidence at this point that the Conditioned Stimulus could produce it on its own.
Step 3: Conditioned Reflex
After sufficient pairings of the CS and the UCS, the CS alone should be able to produce a response, which we will
now call the Conditioned Response because it is the result of learning. A conditioned reflex is made up of a
Conditioned Stimulus and a Conditioned Response. It is still automatic, but it differs from the Unconditioned Reflex
because it has been learned.
Conditioned Stimulus (CS)  Conditioned Response (CR)
Classical Conditioning Notation
http://www.ar.cc.mn.us/biederman/courses/p1110/conditioning.htm
UCS  UCR
CS
+
UCS  UCR
CS  CR
(Unconditioned Reflex)
(Conditioning)
(Conditioned Reflex)
Operant Conditioning
Punishment or Reinforcement?
Positive or Negative?
I would suggest that you approach operant conditioning examples with a two-step question. First, ask
yourself if the consequence leads to an increase or decrease in behavior. If a behavior increases, you are
dealing with reinforcement. If the behavior decreases, you are dealing with punishment (extinction also
decreases behavior, but extinction is not a consequence). The second question to ask is What action was
involved in delivering the consequence? If the consequence involved giving or presenting something,
then the consequence is positive. If the consequence involves taking away or removing something, then
the consequence is negative. Put your answers to the two questions together and you should have the
correct label.
Here's an example to work through:
A mild electrical current is administered to a rat's brain after each time the rat presses a bar. Following
the electrical stimulation, the rat's bar pressing increases.



Behavior
Consequence
Effect on behavior
Bar pressing
Electrical current given
Bar pressing increases
The behavior increases, therefore we are dealing with reinforcement.
The consequence is given; therefore, we are dealing with a positive consequence.
The consequence is positive reinforcement.
Now try this one on your own:
Linda has a cold. She takes an antihistamine medication, after which her runny nose, aches, and pains
go away. Linda is now more likely to take an antihistamine when she gets a cold in the future.
Behavior
Consequence
Effect on behavior
Here is the table from class:
http://www.ar.cc.mn.us/biederman/courses/p1110/conditioning.htm
Effect on Behavior
A
Given
C
Increase
Decrease
Positive
Positive
Reinforcement
Punishment
Behavior
Behavior 
Negative
Negative
Reinforcement
Punishment
Behavior
Behavior 
T
I
O
N
Taken
Away
There are two sets of Classical and Operant Conditioning examples for you to work through. Set 1
includes 7 examples, which often get complex because they reflect real-world situations. Set 2 includes
10 examples that are written to be more straightforward. If you can work through these on your own
and get the correct answers, you probably have a good grasp on this material.
http://www.ar.cc.mn.us/biederman/courses/p1110/conditioning.htm