Learning
Classical Conditioning
Psychology, Unit 4
Today’s Objectives
• Identify and apply each of the 3
types of learning to life
• Relate the appropriate
psychologist to their area of
specialty in learning
Answer the following questions:
1. Have you ever gotten sick after
eating something and now you can’t
look at that type of food?
2. Is it easy to teach a dog to come to
you? Is it easy to teach a dog not to
chase rabbits in your yard?
3. Do you think kids that have violent
parents will become violent
themselves?
3 Types of Learning
1. Classical Conditioning
2. Operant Conditioning
3. Cognitive Learning
1. Classical Conditioning
• Involves reflexive behaviors that
automatically follow a stimulus.
–While watching a horror movie, you
may tense up when you hear scary
music begin to play
–If someone jumps out at you, you
scream and put your hands up in a
defensive position
–Feeling ill when you see a food that you
once threw up
1. Ivan Pavlov
• The father of classical (Pavlovian)
conditioning
–Noticed that dogs salivate when
they see food.
–Began ringing a bell, then placing
food in front of dog
–After a while, dog salivates when
bell rings even when there is no
food present
Pavlov
loved his
work!
Can’t
you tell?
Conditioned and Unconditioned Stimuli
1. Unconditioned Stimulus: the “thing” your body
reflexively reacts to without being taught.
a. Stomach flu = vomit
2. Conditioned Stimulus: the “thing” (sound, smell,
touch etc) you teach a new reflex to respond to
b. Smell cinnamon candle while you have the
stomach flu; now you get nauseas any time you
smell cinnamon
3. Identify US and CS: I used to wake up when my
body and mind felt rested. Now, the second my
daughter cries, I wake up and run to her room.
Classically Condition your Pulse
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
• The intensity of the traumatic incident is
such that stimuli that were present at the
time of the trauma (unconditioned
stimulus) become associated with fear
and arousal symptoms
• Henceforth similar stimuli (now
conditioned) trigger responses as if the
trauma was recurring.
1. Use of Classical Conditioning in
People
• Therapists use Classical Conditioning
to treat fears and disorders in people
– EX: Agoraphobics are people who have an
abnormal fear of leaving their homes. This is
often treated w/ CC. The Therapist teaches the
patient deep relaxation techniques. While in deep
relaxation, they are asked to picture opening the
front door, then going outside, then to a baseball
game. Eventually, actually doing these things
reminds the patient of being relaxed and the
phobia is cured!
1.Use of Classical Conditioning in
People
• Medical Doctors have used CC to
treat autoimmune disorders w/o drugs
that usually have terrible side effects.
–They pair an immunosuppressant w/
a smell or food and after a few
treatments that smell or food will
suppress the immune system w/o the
use of the drug.
Exit Ticket
1. List the 3 types of learning
2. Who is known as the founder of
classical conditioning?
3. Summarize the experiment that
proves classical conditioning