Classical ConditioningDefinition: learning through repeated association of 2 or more stimuli

Elements of Classical ConditioningElement Definition Examples

Neutral Stimulus

A stimulus (prior to conditioning) that doesn’t evoke a response

Bell, foods (that subsequently result in an aversion as a result of food poisoning)

Unconditioned Stimulus

Any stimulus which produces a (naturally occurring) automatic response

Meat powder (Pavlov’s dog), contaminated pie (naturally results in illness/nausea)

Conditioned Stimulus

A stimulus (that is neutral at start of conditioning process & does not normally produce UCR) through repeated association with CS triggers same response as UCS.

Sound of a bell, sight/smell of meat pie

Elements of Classical ConditioningElement Definition Examples

UnconditionedResponse

Occurs automatically when UCS is presented, (it’s reflexive/ involuntary)

Salivation in response to smell of meat powder, illness in response to eating contaminated food

Conditioned Response

Is behaviour - which is similar (BUT NOT NECESSARILY THE SAME) to the UCR, which is triggered by the CS after conditioning.

Conditioned responses are Learned (KEY POINT)

Salivation in response to the sound of a bell, nausea in response to site/ smell of a pie.

Application of C.C• Example 1• Drew goes to a

restaurant and orders Scallops, the Scallops turn out to be contaminated and Drew suffers from a bad case of food poisoning.

• Now whenever Drew sees or smell scallops he feels nauseous:

• Required – Identify the NS, UCS, CS, UCR, CR

Solution – to example 1Neutral

Stimulus

Unconditioned Stimulus

Conditioned Stimulus

Unconditioned Response

Conditioned Response

Solution – to example 1Neutral

StimulusScallops

Unconditioned Stimulus

Contamination (of Scallops)

Conditioned Stimulus

Sight/ smell of Scallops

Unconditioned Response

Illness – food poisoning as a result of eating contaminated scallops

Conditioned Response

Feeling nauseous at sight/ smell of scallops

Application of C.C• Example 2• Lebron waits for the train

at Box Hill station one night and gets beaten up by a gang of thugs resulting in various painful injuries

• Now Lebron feels highly anxious when in the vicinity of the Box Hill train station:

• Required – Identify the NS, UCS, CS, UCR, CR

Solution – to example 2Neutral

Stimulus

Unconditioned Stimulus

Conditioned Stimulus

Unconditioned Response

Conditioned Response

Solution – to example 2Neutral

StimulusThe Box Hill train station

Unconditioned Stimulus

Getting beaten up by thugs

Conditioned Stimulus

Being in the vicinity of Box Hill train station

Unconditioned Response

The painful injuries resulting from the beating by the gang of thugs

Conditioned Response

Feeling highly anxious when in the vicinity of the Box Hill train station