Learning Psych - Classical Conditioning

Object presented before conditioning

unlearnt automatic response to unconditioned stimulus

originally neutral stimulus that becomes associated with a UCS and triggers conditioned response

Learnt response to a previously neutral stimulus

initial stage of learning which a response is established and gradually strengthened

• - eliminating a conditioned response
• - CR can be stopped
• - Does not totally erase effects of classical conditioning

tendency for a similar stimulus to evoke similar responses

learning a conditioned response to a specific conditioned stimulus (opposite of generalisation)

Time interval between CS and UCS - most effective when time interval is small

• Predictability of occurrence of one stimulus from the presence of another
• the principle that learning will occur only if one event appears to be dependent  on or conditioned by something else

Behaviour Therapy used to unlearn classical conditioning

Reduces condition response of anxiety by establishing a different response to the conditioned stimulus

• Relaxing - deep breathing/muscle relaxing/hypnosis
• Anxiety Hierarchy - list of least threatening to most threatening things
• Pairing - pair anxiety inducing stimulus with relaxinng

• extinction is applied
• Patient is exposed to CS without UCS
• eg sees dentist without experiencing painful treatment

• Attempts to condition an aversion to a stimulus
• Used to treat addictions
• eg take a tablet before drinking alcohol, therefore associate nausea with alcohol