Learning
Classical Conditioning
Classical
Conditioning
 Ivan Pavlov
 1849-1936
 Russian physician/
neurophysiologist
 Nobel Prize in 1904
 studied digestive
secretions
Classical
Conditioning
 Pavlov’s
device for
recording
salivation
Pavlov’s Classic
Experiment
Before Conditioning
UCS (food
in mouth)
UCR
(salivation)
During Conditioning
Neutral
stimulus
(tone)
No
salivation
After Conditioning
UCS (food
in mouth)
Neutral
stimulus
(tone)
UCR
(salivation)
CS
(tone)
CR (salivation)
Classical
Conditioning
 Classical Conditioning
 a neutral stimulus that signals an
unconditioned stimulus begins
to produce a response that
anticipates and prepares for the
unconditioned stimulus
Classical
Conditioning
 Unconditioned Stimulus (UCS)
 stimulus that unconditionally-automatically and naturally--triggers a
response
 Unconditioned Response (UCR)
 unlearned, naturally occurring response to
the unconditioned stimulus
 salivation when food is in the mouth
Classical
Conditioning
 Conditioned Stimulus (CS)
 originally irrelevant stimulus that,
after association with an
unconditioned stimulus, comes to
trigger a conditioned response
 Conditioned Response (CR)
 learned response to a previously
neutral conditioned stimulus
Classical
Conditioning
 John B. Watson
 viewed psychology as
objective science
 generally agreed-upon
consensus today
 recommended study of
behavior without
reference to
unobservable mental
processes
 not universally accepted
by all schools of thought
today
Little Albert
Classical
Conditioning
 Generalization
 tendency for stimuli similar to
CS to elicit similar responses
 Discrimination
 in classical conditioning, the
learned ability to distinguish
between a CS and other
stimuli that do not signal a
UCS
Classical
Conditioning
 Acquisition
 the initial stage in classical conditioning
 the phase associating a neutral stimulus
with an unconditioned stimulus so that
the neutral stimulus comes to elicit a
conditioned response
Classical
Conditioning
 Extinction
 diminishing of a CR
 in classical conditioning,
when a UCS does not follow
a CS
 in operant conditioning,
when a response is no
longer reinforced
Classical
Conditioning
Strength
of CR
Acquisition
(CS+UCS)
Extinction
(CS alone)
Spontaneous
recovery of
CR
Extinction
(CS alone)
Pause
Classical
Conditioning
 Spontaneous Recovery
 reappearance, after a rest
period, of an extinguished CR
Current Understanding
 Early behaviorists did not
consider cognition but . . .
 Conditioning is based upon
predictability and expectancy
 Conditioning occurs best
when the pairing of stimuli is
similar to a causal relationship
Current Understanding
 Early behaviorists believed
that any natural response
could be conditioned using
any neutral stimulus but . . .
 An animals capacity for
conditioning is constrained by
its biology
Current Understanding
 Biological
Predispositions
 A species will
learn particular
associations that
enhance its
survival
John Garcia
Nausea Conditioning
in Cancer Patients
UCS
(drug)
UCR
(nausea)
CS
(waiting
room)
UCS
(drug)
UCR
(nausea)
CS
(waiting
room)
CR
(nausea)
So What?
 Classical Conditioning allows
animals to adapt to their
environment
• Conditioning
Animals are extra-responsive
enables animals
stimuli likes
that announce
totodevelop
and dislikes
significant
events such as
that
aid survival
food or pain
Applications of Classical
Conditioning
 Every species tested has
developed adaptations
through classical conditioning
 Psychological Therapy
 Animal training and control
 Addiction recovery
 So where do we see Classical
Conditioning every day?
 Advertisers link powerful
emotions with their products
Classical Conditioning in
Advertising
Hunger
Generic Brands rely on
Generalization
Sex Sells . . .
Sex Sells
Freedom
Patriotism
Patriotism & Hunger?
Parental Instincts
Spirit of Adventure