Behavioral model 1: Classical conditioning
Classical conditioning
Type of learning discovery by Pavlov
Two stimuli are linked together to created a learned response
Conditioning and stimulus
Process of learning associations between stimuli (things we see) and responses (our reactions)
Uncondioned stimulus (UCS)
Natural stimulus that automatically triggers a response without prior learning
When we smell food, we naturally feel hungry
Conditioned stimulus (CS)
Neutral stimulus, through repeated pairing with the unconditioned stimulus --> invoke a similar response
Bell constantly rung before feeding a food, dog associate sound of bell with food. Then only bell we make dog salivate or excited
Responses
Uncoditioned response (UCR) is automatic and natural response in reaction to unconditioned stimulus
When we see or smell food, our mouth waters automatically.
Conditioned response (CR) a learned response, shows up after the conditioned stimulus is presented
Triggered by the conditioned stimulus
Bell consistently paired with food, eventually starting to salivating in response to the bell, without their being food.
Generalization and discrimination
Stimulus generalization
Reacting to similar things, not just the specific one we learned from
The CS reponse shows up to similar stimuli
Conditoned to fear a specific dog, may also feel fear when they see other dogs
Discrimination
Only respond to intended stimulus and nog similar stimli
Conditioned to fear a specific dog, then they only would experience fear in the presence of that dog and no other animals
Stages of classical conditioning
1. Before conditioning
Natural stimulus - UCS that causes a response without previous learning
The neutral stimulus NS, has no effect
2. During conditioning
Neutral stimulus (NS) is repeatedly paired with natural stimulus
Neutral (NS) becomes conditioned stimulus (CS), acting as a signal for the UCS
3. After conditioning
Conditioned stimulus becomes associated with the UCS --> learned response, called conditioned response (CR)
Conditioned reponse is triggered by CS alone, even without presence of the UCS.
Unconditoned stimulus = when the dog smells food, it naturally starts salivating
Neutral stimulus = sound of the bell has no effect
Experimenter repeatedly rings the bell (the neutral stimulus) and immediately represents food (unconditioned stimulus) to the dog
Pairing of bell and food is done multiple times
Dog associate the sound of bell (now the conditioned stimulus CS), with the arrival of food (UCS)
Learned response, dog starts salivates when hearing bell alone (CS), is the conditioned response (CR)
Little Albert experiment
How fears develop by association of things together
LA was shown a white rat and heard a loud noise at the same time
LA became scared of rat without the loud noise
Fear extended to other rat-like objects
Fear gradually diminished over time --> extinction
Proposed treatment
Gradual exposure to feared thing in safe environment
Create positive assocations (pleasurable experiences, treats)
Engage in activities involving the feared thing for familiarity and control.
Goal: Reduce fear and anxiety through positive associations and a sense of control.
Critical evaluation
Only focus on environment, not biology and innate charecterstics
Missing complexity
Ignore personal choice, saying behavior is solely to environmental learning