Classical Conditioning

Classical Conditioning

1. When a neutral stimulus produces a response after being paired with a stimulus that naturally produces a response; first studied by Ivan Pavlov

2. unconditioned stimulus:: Something that reliably produces a naturally occurring reaction in an organism

   • conditioned stimulus: Stimulus that is initially neutral and produces no reliable response in an organism
     • unconditioned response: Reflexive reaction that is reliably produced by an unconditioned stimulus
       • conditioned response: Reaction that resembles an unconditioned response but is produced by a conditioned stimulus

3. Extinction: Gradual elimination of a learned response that occurs when the US is no longer presented

4. Acquisition: Phase of classical conditioning when the CS and the US are presented together

   • Spontaneous recovery: Tendency of a learned behavior to recover from extinction after a rest period

5. Response is typically an involuntary response

   • “Reinforcement” occurs before response
     • Role of learner passive
       • Neutral stimulus becomes a CS through association with an US
         • Learns to expect a US will follow a CS