Learning Theory- Classical Conditioning

Learning Theory- Classical Conditioning

1. Ivan Pavlov was the first psychologist to describe learning through (classical) conditioning. The main assumption is that behaviour is learnt through association ( for example, we learn to respond to new events and people in the same way as we already respond to other events)

2. An example of how classical conditioning might occur : babies love food, so Learning theory suggests they will love their feeder as well.

3. Before Conditioning

   • unconditioned stimulus
     • UCS
       • Food
     • Produces
       • Unconditioned response
         • UCR
           • Comfort

4. During Conditioning- this action will occur a number of times

   • Unconditioned Stimulus
     • and
       • Neutral stimulus
         • Produces
           • Unconditioned Response
             • UCR
               • Comfort
         • NS
           • Mother
     • UCS
       • Food

5. After Conditioning

   • Conditioned stimulus
     • CS
       • Mother
     • Produces
       • Conditioned Response
         • CR
           • Comfort
   • After Conditioning the infant sees the MOTHER as a source of COMFORT. This is how attachments form.