Classical Conditionin

Classical Conditioning

PSY/390

June 10, 2013

Classical Conditioning

Theory of Classical Conditioning

At the most basic level, the theory of classical conditioning is the pairing of a stimulus with another stimulus in order to bring about the response to the first stimulus with the presentation of the second stimulus (Olson &Hergenhahn, 2013). In the breakdown of associative learning, it is very important to note the differences between pre-conditioned titles and post-conditioned titles. For instance, in a pre-conditioned state, the unconditioned stimulus (US) elicits an unconditioned response (UR). Furthermore, in a pre-conditioned state , the forthwith conditioned stimulus (CS) is nothing more than a neutral stimulus (NS), and the conditioned response (CR) is the abovementioned UR. However, during conditioning, the NS is paired through multiple trials with the US and eventually causes the UR –which usually accompanies the US- to be associated with the NR, now a CR, with an end result of the CR being exhibited when the CS occurs. What is more, the opposite occurs during extinction. During extinction, the CS is repeated presented to the organism without the CR. It is through this process that conditioning is extinguished. When the response rate to the beforehand CR, now a UR, reaches pre-conditioning frequency, the conditioning is said to be brought to extinction. In addition, if a Cs is again paired with a Cr after extinction, spontaneous recovery of the association usually follows. On the other hand, generalization occurs when a CR is paired with a class of CS’s, such as a set of tones, in which case the CR is associated with tones in general, but more specifically with tones that approximate the original associated tone (CS). In addition, it is the end goal of associative theory to explain all human learning, cognition, and behavior through the breakdown of complex psychological processes into their subordinate and simplistic associative mechanisms...