Classical Conditioning

Classical conditioning is reacting in a

certain way to something (a stimulus)
that one would not originally have
responded to .
Defined: a learning procedure in which
associations are made between a
natural stimulus and a neutral stimulus
Stage 1: Before Conditioning
In this stage, the unconditioned stimulus
(UCS) produces an unconditioned response (UCR) in
an organism.
In basic terms, this means that a stimulus in the
environment has produced a behavior / response
which is unlearned (i.e., unconditioned) and therefore
is a natural response which has not been taught.
In this respect, no new behavior has been learned yet.
Stage 1: Before Conditioning

For example, a stomach virus (UCS)

would produce a response of nausea
(UCR).
In another example, a perfume (UCS)
could create a response of happiness or
desire (UCR).
Stage 1: Before Conditioning
This stage also involves another stimulus
which has no effect on a person and is called
the neutral stimulus (NS).
The NS could be a person, object, place, etc.
The neutral stimulus in classical conditioning
does not produce a response until it is paired
with the unconditioned stimulus.
Stage 2: During Conditioning

During this stage a stimulus which produces

no response (i.e., neutral) is associated with
the unconditioned stimulus at which point it
now becomes known as the conditioned
stimulus (CS).
Stage 2: During Conditioning

For example, a stomach virus (UCS) might

be associated with eating a certain food such
as chocolate (CS).
Also, perfume (UCS) might
be associated with a specific person (CS).
Stage 2: During Conditioning
Often during this stage, the UCS must be
associated with the CS on a number of
occasions, or trials, for learning to take place.
However, one trail learning can happen on
certain occasions when it is not necessary for
an association to be strengthened over time
(such as being sick after food poisoning or
drinking too much alcohol).
Stage 3: After Conditioning

Now the conditioned stimulus (CS) has been

associated with the unconditioned stimulus
(UCS) to create a new conditioned response
(CR).
Stage 3: After Conditioning
For example, a person (CS) who has been
associated with nice perfume (UCS) is now
found attractive (CR).
Also, chocolate (CS) which was eaten before
a person was sick with a virus (UCS) now
produces a response of nausea (CR).
Classical Conditioning
Generalization – responding to something similar to
the conditioned stimulus (alarm/buzzing instead of a
bell)
Discrimination – being able to tell the difference
between the conditioned stimulus and the similar
one
Extinction – when the conditioned stimulus is no
longer paired with the unconditioned stimulus,
gradually the unconditioned response will fade (no
more lemonade at sound of bell, no salivating)
 Classical Conditioning - Examples

John Watson – Little Albert experiment

- 11 month old baby
- played with lab rats
- loud sound every time rats around
- Albert associates rats with loud sounds
- Albert terrified of rats.
SO MEAN.
Classical Conditioning - Examples

The veterinarian.
Method to keep cats inside: throw them out in
the snow when they went near the door
repeatedly until they no longer went near the
door
Method to keep cats out of Christmas tree:
shock pads. Some real, some fake (possible
generalization/ discrimination? Nope, they
weren’t smart enough)
Classical Conditioning - Examples

Method to keep dog from barking

obnoxiously: shock collar. Works until the
dog jumps in the pool.
Classical Conditioning - Examples

Taste Aversion -
Eating certain foods that have “made you sick”
(even though it could have been something else) –
no longer want to eat those, or feel sick at the
thought/sight/smell of that particular food.
Usually after awhile extinction takes place
Referrences
https://www.simplypsychology.org/classical-
conditioning.html

https://www.slideshare.net/JamieRBourret/classi
cal-conditioning-in-the-classroom-15195207