Classical conditioning

From WikEd

1 CLASSICAL CONDITIONING
- 1.1 Definition:
- 1.2 Pavlov's experiment

[edit] CLASSICAL CONDITIONING

[edit] Definition:

Noun- conditioning that pairs a neutral stimulus with a stimulus that evokes a reflex: the stimulus that evokes the reflex is given whether or not the conditioned response occurs until eventually the neutral stimulus comes to evoke the reflex.

psychology term: A process of behavior modification by which a subject comes to respond in a desired manner to previously neutral stimulus that has been repeatedly presented along with an unconditioned stimulus that elicits the desired response.

"Classical Conditioning" is defined as "a process of learning by temporal association in which two events that repeatedly occur close together in time become fused in a person's mind and produce the same response" (Comer, 2004)

Classical conditioning is the basis for behavior therapy, a method of changing behavior. Behavior therapists focus on eliminating maladaptive, conditioned reflexes and developing more adaptive ones, often working with people suffering from irrational fears or phobias (Alberto and Troutman, 2003).

Many of our behaviors today are shaped by the pairing of stimuli. Have you ever noticed that certain stimuli, such as the smell of a cologne or perfume, a certain song, a specific day of the year, results in fairly intense emotions? It's not that the smell or the song are the cause of the emotion, but rather what that smell or song has been paired with...perhaps an ex-boyfriend or ex-girlfriend, the death of a loved one, or maybe the day you met your corrent husband or wife. We make these associations all the time and often don't realize the power that these connections or pairings have on us. But, in fact, we have been classically conditioned.(Psychology 101 online)

Classical conditioning is a very powerful, long lived, authentic form of learning that takes place in school settings all the time. It keeps life from being boring -- in that we are constantly learning new things to smile at, be afraid of and feel comfortable around! (Professor Tom Anderson, University of Illinois, commentary EPSY 400, Sept. 2004)

[edit] Pavlov's experiment

Ivan Pavlov's experimental device involved a holding harness for a dog, along with a tube that collected saliva (Comer, 2004). The amount of saliva was then recoreded on a revolving cylinder called a kymograph. The entire device could be viewed by the experimentor through one-way glass.

In Pavlov's experiments, he used meat to make dogs salivate. This meat is called the unconditioned stimulus. The salivation caused by the presence of the meat is called the unconditioned response. In one of his experiments, Pavlov paired the presence of the meat with the sound of a metronome (Comer, 2004). The sound of the metronome is called the conditioned stimulus. After many such pairings, the sound of the metronome alone caused salivation, which is then called the conditioned response.

http://nobelprize.org/medicine/educational/pavlov/images/serie2.gif

Following his initial discovery, Pavlov spent more than three decades studying the processes underlying classical conditioning. He and his associates identified four main processes: acquistion, extinction, generalization, and discrimination. (msn.encarta)

- Acquistion:

The acquistion phase is the initial learning of the conditioned response-for example, the dog learning to salivate at the sound of a bell.

- Extinction:

The term extinction is used to describe the elimination of the conditioned response by repeatedly presenting the conditoned stimulus without the unconditioned stimulus- for example, repeatedly ringing the bell without presenting food afterward.

- Generalization:

After an animal has learned a conditioned response to one stimulus, it may also respond to similar stimuli without further training- for example, using a different sounding bell.

- Discrimination:

Discrimination is the opposite of generalization in which an individual learns to produce a conditioned response to one stimulus but not to another stimulus that is similar- for example, a buzzer won't work like the bell.

[edit] Roles for Classical Conditioning

Classical conditioning is a major factor in real life. It's a fundamental part of all forms of animal training (including some forms of human training). Its primary use in human behavior is in dealing with habit formation, either trying (1) form good habits (exercising, liking good behavior rewards, or good school performance.) or (2) to break bad ones (smoking, overeating, etc.), including phobias.

The most common examples of classical conditioning seen in the educational environment are in situations where students exhibit phobias and anxieties, like "math anxiety," fear of failure,and general school phobia. Another example of classical conditioning in education is the rewarding of candy for right answers or good behavior. (Teachnet)

Classical conditioning works with advertising. For example, many beer ads promeniently feature attractive young women wearing bikinis. The young women (unconditioned stimulus) naturally elicit a favorable, mildly aroused feeling (unconditioned response) in most men. The beer is simply associated with this effect. The same thing applies with the jingles and music that accompany many advertisements.

[edit] Personal experiences with Classical Conditioning

(If anyone would like to add some of his/her experiences with Classical Conditioning, please feel free to add them here.)

In my highschool Psychology class, the teacher conditioned the class to salivate whenever we heard her say Pavlov. She did this by having us suck on lemonade mix (VERY sour) whenever she said Pavlov's name, and after a while we would salivate after simply hearing the word.

Whenever I see the word artichokes I feel nauseous and scratchy. I once ordered a pizza with artichokes and cheese on it. I have never been allergic to artichokes before. Soon after I began to feel itchy and suddenly saw bumps appearing on my midsection and arms. I called the doctor and talked to his nurse. She asked me if they were square or circular. I said they were square. She said I had hives and to take benedryl.

Camille Unzicker

Whenever I hear the song Wichita Lineman by Glen Campbell, I always think of my husband. Before we were married (which was about the time this song came out), he worked as a lineman for Western Union.sjmorrisette

When I was over in Iraq, I have been condition to react to airplanes overhead. I was stationed near Baghdad International Airport and had to listen for explosions over the noise of incoming and outgoing airplanes. I became aware of my conditioning when I came home and was nervous for some reason. After I started a journal, I noticed I was nervous at times for no reason. Later, I learned it occurred when planes flew overhead. I live in Savoy and a flight path to Savoy airport is overhead my house. Now that I’m aware of this, in time the nervous will extinguish because there would be no explosions in Savoy. P Graham

As a band director, I like to condition my students that when it is time to start a rehearsal by doing the same thing everyday. For example, during marching band, before each rehearsal and then at the end of each rehearsal I like to call the band to attention. This helps the students know what is expected at the beginning and the end. -Jeremiah Kramper-

I also appreciate the effects of classical conditioning on my band and chorus students. Routine and expectations allow my classes to run smoothly. Students know when it is ready to start class not only by thr routine I exhibit, but by my actions. When I put my baton up, they know they better be ready to play, when I am standing next to the podium, they had better be ready to focus and listen to what is going to happen next. -Missy Legutki

This example has to do with two of my greatest loves, food and sports. My dad had taken my to my first baseball game when I was five years old. It was the South Bend White Sox verse the Lansing Lug nuts. I remember the game not for the baseball that was played but for the pretzel with cheese that had “doom” written on it from the start. For some reason, I really wanted one of the pretzels with the cheese that everyone was getting all around me. Well being the fat kid that I was I guess I ate it too quick and ended up throwing it up all over myself and the seat in front of me. It was not a pretty site. From this day on even the smell of the ballpark cheese that they seem to use everywhere makes me sick to my stomach. The unconditioned stimuli would be the terrible incident of throwing up the pretzel at the ballpark since that doesn’t normally happen. The conditioned stimuli are how every time now that I see or smell that cheese I get conditioned response of getting sick to my stomach. J. Simmons

I have been classically conditioned to feel comforted with the feeling of pressure under my lower lip. After playing my flute for many years I came to associate playing the flute with comfort and security. Although it took a long time for this to develop, it did eventually become an initial reaction for me to feel comforted and secure when playing the flute. In this example the UCS is playing the flute and the UCR is my feeling of comfort and security. (I know this is a stretch, but go with it.) Sometimes when I feel stressed as if my safety is being threatened, I will simply put my finger under my lower lip (where I would put my flute) and I instantly feel a little safer. The feeling of pressure under my lower lip (CS) now gives me the comfort and security (CR) I feel when I play the flute. -J. Blanken-Webb