Classical Conditioning: Principles, Types, and Applications
Definition of Learning
Learning is defined as a relatively permanent change in behavior that occurs as a result of practice. All learning involves a new behavior, but not any new behavior is a product of learning.
Classical Conditioning
Classical conditioning is a type of learning in which an organism learns to associate a neutral stimulus with a meaningful stimulus. The neutral stimulus becomes a conditioned stimulus (CS), and the meaningful stimulus becomes a conditioned response (CR).
Pavlov’s Experiment
The classic example of classical conditioning is Pavlov’s experiment with dogs. Pavlov paired the sound of a bell (CS) with the presentation of food (US). After several pairings, the dogs began to salivate (CR) at the sound of the bell, even in the absence of food.
Concepts
Acquisition: The process of establishing a conditioned response. Extinction: The gradual decrease in the conditioned response when the conditioned stimulus is no longer paired with the unconditioned stimulus. Generalization: The tendency for an organism to respond to stimuli that are similar to the original conditioned stimulus. Discrimination: The ability of an organism to distinguish between the conditioned stimulus and other similar stimuli.
Main Types of Classical Conditioning
According to the Motivational Nature of the Unconditioned Stimulus:
- Appetitive: Unconditioned stimuli that naturally evoke approach responses (e.g., food).
- Aversive: Unconditioned stimuli that naturally evoke escape, defense, or avoidance responses (e.g., electric shock).
According to the Conditioned Response:
- Excitatory: Produces a tendency to respond to the conditioned stimulus.
- Inhibitory: Produces a tendency to decrease or eliminate a response to the conditioned stimulus.
The Temporal Relationship of Stimuli
Simultaneous Conditioning: The conditioned stimulus and unconditioned stimulus begin precisely at the same time. Brief Delay Conditioning: The conditioned stimulus begins first, followed by the unconditioned stimulus after a short delay. Long Delay Conditioning: The conditioned stimulus begins first, followed by the unconditioned stimulus after a longer delay. Trace Conditioning: There is a”time ga” between the conditioned stimulus and the unconditioned stimulus. Retroactive Conditioning: The unconditioned stimulus begins before the conditioned stimulus.
Contingency
Contingency refers to the statistical relationship between two events in time, whereby the appearance of one of them alters the probability of occurrence of the other. In classical conditioning, contingency refers to the”dependenc” between the conditioned stimulus and the unconditioned stimulus.
Types of Contingency
Positive Contingency: The appearance of the conditioned stimulus makes the subsequent appearance of the unconditioned stimulus more likely. Negative Contingency: The appearance of the conditioned stimulus makes the subsequent appearance of the unconditioned stimulus less likely. Zero Contingency: The appearance of the conditioned stimulus has no effect on the probability of occurrence of the unconditioned stimulus.
Inhibitory Conditioning
Inhibitory conditioning is a type of classical conditioning in which a conditioned stimulus is paired with the absence of an unconditioned stimulus. This leads to the development of an inhibitory conditioned response, which is a decrease or elimination of the conditioned response.
Counterconditioning
Counterconditioning is a process of inhibitory conditioning in which a conditioned stimulus that has been associated with an aversive response is paired with a new stimulus that has a positive or appetitive value. This can lead to a decrease or elimination of the aversive conditioned response.