Classical Conditioning

• Classical Conditioning (CC) is learning via association and is one of the core assumptions of the behaviourist approach
• CC occurs when a neutral stimulus is substituted for the original unconditioned stimulus to produce a conditioned response

  An unconditioned stimulus produces a natural, unforced response i.e. no animal or human has to learn how to feel hunger
• The mechanisms of CC are as follows:

  1. The unconditioned stimulus (UCS)is the starting point
  2. The UCS is a stimulus that produces an unconditioned response (UCR): [Food is an UCS as it is a natural, physiological reflex. The UCR to food being presented is to salivate/feel hungry]
• The mechanisms of CC are as follows:

  3. The UCS is paired with a neutral stimulus (NS)

  4. When the UCS is paired with the NS the response continues to be the UCR, as a result of the UCS

  5. After repeated pairings, the NS is presented on its own and elicits the UCR e.g. salivation

  6. The NS has thus become the conditioned stimulus (CS) and the salivation has become the conditioned response (CR)

  7. When the CS is presented it will result in the CR

  8. The CR is generally not as strong as the UCR

  9. After some time the NS must be paired with the UCS again otherwise extinction will occur