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Chapter 7 (B):
Classical Conditioning:
Expanding Pavlov’s
Understanding
A.P. Psychology
Do-Now:
(In Journal)

Pavlov’s Experiment in “Classical Conditioning”

Identify the following components of Pavlov’s
experiment.

1.__ Neutral Stimulus
2.__ Unconditioned (Unlearned) Stimulus
3.__ Unconditioned (Unlearned) Response
4.__ Conditioned (Learned) Stimulus
5.__ Conditioned (Learned) Response




A. Bell
B. Food
C. Salivation (to Food) D. Salivation (to Bell)
Acquisition

Acquisition:

Classical Conditioning:
Initial stage, when one links a neutral stimulus and an
unconditioned stimulus
 Neutral stimulus begins triggering conditioned response


Operant Conditioning:


The strengthening of a reinforced response
Neutral stimulus should come (.5 seconds) before
the unconditioned stimulus
Acquisition
The Conditioned Stimulus (CS) needs to come half a second before
the Unconditioned Stimulus (UCS) for acquisition to occur.
Acquisition

Higher-Order Conditioning:

The conditioned stimulus in one experience is paired
with a new neutral stimulus, creating a second (often
weaker) conditioned stimulus

E.g. An animal that learns that a tone predicts food
might then learn that a light predicts the tone and
may begin responding to the light alone
Generalization

Generalization:
The tendency, once a response has been
conditioned, for stimuli similar to the conditioned
stimulus to elicit similar responses
 John B. Watson, Rosalie Rayner: “Little Albert”

Generalization

Interpret this quote:
“The cat, having sat upon a hot stove lid,
will not sit upon a hot stove lid again. But
he won't sit upon a cold stove lid, either.”
–Mark Twain
Discrimination

Discrimination:

The learned ability to distinguish between a
conditioned stimulus and stimuli that do not signal
an unconditioned stimulus
Discrimination
 Can
you think of an
example of how a
pet dog may exhibit
discrimination
of a stimulus?
Extinction

Extinction:
The diminishing of a
conditioned response
 Classical Conditioning:



An unconditioned stimulus
(US) does not follow a
conditioned stimulus (CS)
Operant Conditioning:

A response is no longer
reinforced
Extinction
How
could Pavlov make the
conditioned response
(salivating to the sound of a bell)
become extinct?
Spontaneous Recovery

Spontaneous Recovery:

The reappearance, after a pause, of an extinguished
response
Learned Helplessness

Learned Helplessness:

The hopelessness and passive resignation an animal
or human learns when unable to avoid repeated or
aversive events
Learned Helplessness

How might being bullied as a child lead to the
individual experiencing “learned
helplessness?”

How might school leveling/tracking lead to
the individual experiencing “learned
helplessness?”

How would you suggest the individual should
work to correct this learned behavior?
Biological Predispositions
John Garcia showed that the duration
between the CS and the US may be long
(hours), but yet result in conditioning. A
biologically adaptive CS (taste) led to
conditioning but other stimuli (sight or
sound) did not.
Biological Predispositions
Even humans can develop classically to conditioned nausea.
Biological Predispositions

Psychologists may suggest that
alcoholics use “Antabuse,” a pill
that causes nausea when
combined with alcohol

The use of this drug may serve
to condition the alcoholic to
become nauseous when drinking
alcohol (aversive conditioning)
Applications of
Classical Conditioning
1. Former crack cocaine users should avoid
cues (people, places) associated with
previous drug use.
2. Through classical conditioning, a drug (plus
its taste) that affects the immune response
may cause the taste of the drug to invoke
the immune response.
Applications of
Classical Conditioning
John B. Watson used
classical conditioning
procedures to develop
advertising campaigns for a
number of organizations,
including Maxwell House,
making the “coffee break”
an American custom.
Review

What is acquisition?

Provide an example of the following elements of
Classical Conditioning:
Generalization
 Discrimination
 Extinction
 Spontaneous Recovery


In what ways was the Study of “Little Albert”
unethical?
Homework
Chapter 7: Key People

Research Study # 10: “Little Emotional
Albert” (Pgs. 72-78)

Chapter 7 A and B: Quiz: “Learning”