Classical conditioning

• Classical conditioning is a type of learning which occurs through associations made between an unconditioned stimulus (UCS) and neutral stimulus (NS)
• Before conditioning, an unconditioned stimulus (UCS) will produce an unconditioned response (UCR). During conditioning, the neutral stimulus (NS) is repeatedly paired with the unconditioned stimulus (UCS) to produce an unconditioned response (UCR).
• After conditioning, the neutral stimulus (NS) becomes the conditioned stimulus (CS), producting the conditioned response (CR)
• Pavlov demonstrated that dogs could be conditioned to salivate upon hearing a bell.
• Pavlov's research process:

  • Before conditioning, the unconditioned stimulus (food) produced an unconditioned response (salivation)
  • During conditioning, the unconditioned stimulus (food) was repeatedly paired with a neutral stimulus (a bell) to produce the same unconditioned response of salivation
  • An association was made between the neutral stimulus (a bell) and the unconditioned stimulus (salivation)
  • After conditioning, the neutral stimulus became the conditioned stimulus to produce the conditioned response of salivation
• Extinction occurs when the conditioned stimulus is no longer paired with the

  unconditioned stimulus, so the conditioned response becomes extinct and disappears.
• Pavlov is the psychologist associated with classical conditioning
• When and how often a behaviour is reinforced can have a significant impact on the strength and rate of the response.
• Pavlov demonstrated that repeated exposure to an event leads to a learned and uncontrollable behaviour. This process can be used to explain the acquisition of phobias and the development of attachment.