Download Guided Notes – Learning – Classical Conditioning

AP Psychology
Guided Notes #6
Fall Semester 2014
Bacile
Unit VI: Learning & Memory
Corresponding Chapter(s): Modules 26-35
Topic: Learning & Memory (7-9%)
INTRODUCTORY PSYCHOLOGY: LEARNING (CLASSICAL CONDITIONING)
Learning: The Basics
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Unlike some animals, humans are not born with 100% genetic blueprint for life…
o Nature’s most important gift to us may be our adaptability…
 Our capacity to learn new behaviors ____________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
Learning
o A relatively ___________________________________________________________________ brought about
by experience or practice
 What does “relatively permanent” mean?
 Upon learning, some part of the brain is _______________________________
______________________________ to record what has been learned;
a process for memory
 How do we learn?
 Seeing, doing, associating, etc.
Learning: Classical Conditioning
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Classical Conditioning
o A type of learning where a ________________________________________________________________________________________ because it predicts
another stimulus that already produces that response
 Form of learning by _________________________________; one of the simplest forms of learning
 Example
 Flushing the toilet/shower
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Ivan Pavlov (1849-1936)
o Russian physiologist
o Initially interested in studying the _______________________________________________________
 Classical Conditioning
 Unconditioned Stimulus (UCS)
 ______________________________________________ (UCR)
 ______________________________________________ (NS)
 Conditioned Stimulus (CS)
 Unconditioned Response (CR)
Elements of Classical Conditioning
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Unconditioned Stimulus (UCS)
o A _________________________________________________________________ that triggers
an involuntary reflex/response
Pavlov’s Dogs
UCS
UCR
NS
CS
Unconditioned Response (UCR)
CR
o An ________________________________________________________________ to a
naturally occurring or unconditioned stimulus
 The relationship between the UCS and UCR __________________________________________________________________________
Conditioned Stimulus (CS)
o A stimulus that eventually produces a learned reflex response by being paired with the original unconditioned stimulus (USC)
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The CS must be a _________________________________________________________________________________________________; originally
known as the ________________________________________ (NS)
Conditioned Response (CR)
o The ______________________________________________________________ to a conditioned stimulus
 Generally, the __________________________________________________________ in terms of behavior (though the CR may be slightly
weaker)
Putting It All Together
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Acquisition
o ______________________________________________________________________________________
 Occurs when a neutral stimulus (NS) is repeatedly paired with an unconditioned stimulus (UCS)
 The subject learns a _____________________________________ (CR) to a previously neutral stimulus (CS)
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Necessities in Classical Conditioning
o The __________________________________________________________________________________________
 ***If Pavlov rang the bell just after he provided the dogs with food, they wouldn’t have become conditioned
o The CS and the UCS ________________________________________________________________________________________
 Ideally no more than 5 seconds apart…
o The NS must be paired with the UCS _______________________________________ before conditioning can take place
o The CS is usually _________________________________ from other competing stimuli
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Stimulus Generalization
o The process by which an organism produces the _____________________________________________________________________________
 The more similar the substitute stimulus, the stronger the generalized response
 Pavlov’s Stimulation Experiment
Stimulus Discrimination
o The process by which an organism _________________________________________________________________________________________________________
 The subject learns that one stimuli predicts the UCS while the other does not
Extinction
o The __________________________________________________ of a learned response
 Occurs as the CS loses its power to trigger the CR
 The continual presentation of the CS alone will weaken the associated between the two stimuli
Spontaneous Recovery
o The ______________________________________, after a pause, of an _________________________________________________________________
 After a rest period, an extinguished CR spontaneously recovers, but if they CS persists alone, the CR will become
extinct again
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Learning: Behaviorism (Expanding on Classical Conditioning)
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Classical conditioning eventually led to the study of ________________________________
o Both Pavlov & Watson considered the consciousness, or the mind, unfit for the scientific
study of psychology
 (May have underestimated the importance of cognitive processes and
biological constraints…)
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Founded by John B. Watson
o Behaviorism focused on ___________________________________________________________________________;
“nurture”
o By manipulating a stimulus, a psychologist can control a leaner’s _____________________________
__________________________________
 Today, most believe that learning is the result of cognition, which is
influenced by both nature and nurture
Little Albert Experiment
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John B. Watson & Rosalie Rayner (1920)
o Sought to explain that ______________________________________ can be explained through classical conditioning
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Established a ___________________________________________ in an 11-month old, Albert
Led to questions about experimental ethics
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The Experiment
o NS: ___________________________________________
o UCS: _________________________________________
o UCR: _________________________________________
o CS: ___________________________________________
o CR: ___________________________________________
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In this case, Albert’s fear is known as a ________________________________________________________
What about white rabbits? Fur coats? Santa Claus?