Classical Conditioning

Ivan Pavlov’s Experiment

• Originally interested in physiology– Studying effect saliva

had on digestion

• Noticed dogs began to salivate upon seeing experimenter (even without food)

Pavlov’s Experiment cont.

StimulusAnything that

causes some kind of reaction.

ResponseAny action that comes from a

stimulus.

Example:Ice cube offered (S)

Dog comes running (R)

Unconditioned

Response to stimulus is natural and automatic.

Initial Stage: Unconditioned Stimulus, Unconditioned Response

Example:Ice cube offered (US)

Dog comes running (UR)

Neutral Stimulus

• Stimulus that has no effect to illicit a response• Specific conditions are necessary – An association must be formed

Sound of Ice Machine (NS) Ice Cube offered (US) Dog comes running (UR)

Conditioned Stimulus

• An association is made between the neutral stimulus and the unconditioned response

• Not a firm tie yet; acts as a hint

Sound of Ice Machine (CS) Ice Cube offered (US) Dog comes running (UR)

Conditioned Response

• Conditioned stimulus now causes a response on its own

• Same response, but now in reaction to conditioned stimulus

Sound of Ice Machine (CS) Dog comes running (CR)

Classical Conditioning in Action

Dog Training

Emotional Conditioning

• John Watson • In charge of lab rats– Got them to do amazing

things– Realized it was only

through conditioning

• Suggested that deep emotions in humans are just learned experiences

Little Albert

• 11 month old Albert• Watson gave him a

white rat to play with• Made a loud sound to

startle Albert and make him cry

• Albert soon was scared of the white rat

Identifying the Pieces

• Unconditioned Stimulus:– Loud noise

• Unconditioned Response:– Fear of loud noise

• Neutral Stimulus:– Rat

• Conditioned Stimulus:– Rat

• Conditioned Stimulus:– Fear of rat

Extension

• Stimulus Generalization: response spreads from one specific stimulus to other similar ones– Albert became afraid of white bunnies and other things

that resembled the rat.• Extinction: association created through

conditioning disappears– When my dogs don’t go on walks for a while, they forget

to sit before crossing the street• Spontaneous Recovery: sudden reappearance of an

extinguished response