Classical Conditioning by Ivan Pavlov - Essay Example

The principal methodology of classical conditioning is that of an agent learning to associate two stimuli that it observes occurring repeatedly together. (Balkenius and Moren) Classical conditioning is defined as the type of learning which is based on the association of a stimulus that does not ordinarily elicit a particular response with another stimulus that does elicit the response. Pavlov’s experiment: - Pavlov created an auditory tone immediately before placing a substance directly into the mouth of dogs that would cause the reflex action of salivation.

This experiment was repeated several times. Later on, the auditory tone was made without the placement of the substance in the dog’s mouth. The salivary response of the dog still took place on the sound of the tone despite the absence of the substance. The salivary response was correlated with the number of times the substance was presented with the tone. (Furze and Bennet) Principles of Classical Conditioning: - Neutral Stimulus:- Conditioned Stimulus, also referred to as the neutral stimulus, is the arbitrary stimulus in the experiment that is then associated with the unconditioned stimulus.

The conditioned stimulus does not elicit a response before it is associated with the unconditioned stimulus. In Pavlov’s experiment, the auditory tune acts as a conditioned stimulus after it is associated with the placement of the substance in the dog’s mouth. Unconditioned Stimulus:- Unconditioned stimulus is the nonneutral stimulus of the experiment that elicits the response from the subject regardless of whether it is conditioned with any other stimuli or not. In Pavlov’s experiment, the substance placed in the dog’s mouth is the unconditioned stimulus.

Unconditioned Response:- The response to the nonneutral stimulus is the unconditional response. This response takes place as soon as the unconditioned stimulus takes place. In Pavlov’s experiment, the reflexive action of salivary glands of the dog ,on the placement of the substance, acts as the unconditioned response. Conditioned Response: - The response to the neutral stimulus after the association has been formed with the unconditioned stimulus is known as the conditioned response. In Pavlov’s experiment, the salivary response the dogs had to the auditory stone is the conditioned response.

Other Common Phenomenon in Conditioning:- Generalization:- Generalization occurs when a stimulus similar to the conditioned stimulus produces the conditioned response. E.g. In Pavlov’s experiment, an auditory tone similar to the tone produced with the experiment, in a different setting, may act as a conditioned stimulus to produce the conditioned response. Discrimination:- Discrimination refers to the process of differentiating between similar stimuli and responding to only the conditioned stimulus.

This process allows the respondent to differentiate similar stimuli and respond to only very specific forms of stimulus. In the case of Pavlov’s experiment, the ability of the dog to distinguish between various similar auditory tones and salivating only on the sound of the tone at the experiment would be termed as discrimination. Extinction:- Extinction refers to the process of unlearning a learned response because of the removal of the original source of learning. In classical conditioning, extinction can take place if the conditioned stimulus is continuously presented without the subsequent presentation of the unconditioned stimulus.

This action will significantly decrease the frequency of the previously conditioned response eventually leading to the disappearance of the response. Acquisition: - It is the process where the conditioned stimulus becomes associated with the unconditioned stimulus resulting in the formation of the conditioned response. The strength of the response is a function of the number of reinforcements of the association. The strength can be gauged by the amount of saliva produced when the conditioned stimulus is produced.

Reacquisition:- Reacquisition is the process whereby a previously extinguished CS-US association is acquired again. This phase requires a fewer number of reinforcements than the initial process of forming an association. Blocking:- Blocking occurs when a previously conditioned stimulus stops a second conditioned stimulus from acquiring an association with the unconditioned stimulus. In Pavlov’s experiment, the auditory tone will act as the primary CS which will hinder associations of other stimuli with the salivary responses.