Classical Conditioning
Definition
Classical conditioning is a learning process in which an association is made between a previously neutral stimulus and a stimulus that naturally evokes a response.
Analogy
Think of it like hearing your favorite song on the radio. At first, the song (neutral stimulus) doesn't make you feel anything special. But after associating it with happy memories from a great summer vacation (unconditioned stimulus), every time you hear that song, you feel happy (conditioned response).
Theoretical Perspectives
Classical conditioning is rooted in behaviorism, which views psychological phenomena through observable behaviors and disregards internal mental states. It emphasizes the association between stimuli and automatic responses.Study And Research Findings
Study and Research FindingsRelated terms
Unconditioned Stimulus: This is something that naturally and automatically triggers a response without any learning. For example, food to a hungry animal.
Conditioned Stimulus: This is previously neutral stimulus that, after being repeatedly associated with the unconditioned stimulus, gets to trigger a conditioned response. In our analogy, this would be the favorite song.
Conditioned Response: This is the learned reaction to the conditioned stimulus. In our analogy, feeling happy when hearing your favorite song.
"Classical Conditioning" appears in:
Study guides (4)
Additional resources (1)
Practice Questions (20+)
- Spontaneous recovery can happen only after which of the following stages of classical conditioning?
- Which researcher's work focused on classical conditioning?
- The work of ________ focused on operant conditioning; that of ________ focused on classical conditioning.
- In classical conditioning, the unconditioned response and conditioned response are:
- Which part of the brain stores implicit memories formed by classical conditioning and conditioned reflexes?
- Who is associated with the concept of classical conditioning?
- What is the relationship between classical conditioning and phobias?
- What is extinction in the context of classical conditioning?
- What best describes classical conditioning?
- Which characteristic distinguishes classical conditioning from operant conditioning?
- Which of the following best describes how classical conditioning contributes to fear conditioning in humans?
- How has the understanding of classical conditioning evolved from Pavlov's initial experiments to modern day applications?
- How is the concept of classical conditioning applied in advertising campaigns?
- Who is most associated with the theory of classical conditioning?
- Who is considered the founder of classical conditioning?
- In classical conditioning, what is meant by extinction?
- In classical conditioning experiments, which type of stimuli does not require any learning in order to trigger an involuntary response?
- In the context of classical conditioning, what is spontaneous recovery?
- In classical conditioning, what is known as the initial stage when an association between a neutral stimulus and an unconditioned stimulus takes place?
- What happens during extinction in classical conditioning?
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