Classical Conditioning - AP Psychology

1. Describe how conditioned taste aversion challenges the idea of equipotentiality.

   It shows certain stimuli are more easily associated with others based on biological relevance. It shows that some stimulus combinations are biologically favored over others.

2. Describe the process of acquisition in classical conditioning.

   The phase where the CS and US are paired to elicit a CR. Repeated pairings strengthen the association between CS and US.

3. How does the concept of blocking demonstrate limits in classical conditioning?

   A new CS paired with an established CS does not elicit a CR if it provides no new information. Redundant cues that don't add predictive value aren't learned.

4. Identify the UR in Pavlov's dog experiment.

   Salivation in response to food. The natural physiological response to food presentation.

5. What is a conditioned response (CR)?

   A learned response to a previously neutral stimulus. It develops through the association between CS and US during conditioning.

6. What is a conditioned stimulus (CS)?

   A formerly neutral stimulus that elicits a conditioned response. Through repeated pairing with the US, it gains the power to trigger responses.

7. What is the role of surprise in the Rescorla-Wagner model?

   Learning occurs when the US is surprising or unexpected, altering predictions. Unexpected events drive learning by updating predictive associations.

8. What is higher-order conditioning?

   A process where a CS is paired with a new neutral stimulus, creating a second CS. This extends conditioning beyond the original CS-US pairing.

9. What does extinction mean in classical conditioning?

   The diminishing of a conditioned response when the CS is no longer paired with the US. Without reinforcement, the learned association weakens over time.

10. In classical conditioning, what is the term for a stimulus that initially does not elicit the UR?

    Neutral stimulus. It has no initial effect on behavior before conditioning begins.

11. What is the role of temporal contiguity in classical conditioning?

    Temporal contiguity refers to the closeness in time of the CS and US presentation. Closer timing between CS and US produces stronger conditioning effects.

12. What is spontaneous recovery?

    The reappearance of a CR after a pause, following extinction. Shows that extinguished responses are not permanently erased from memory.

13. What effect does timing have on classical conditioning?

    Conditioning is most effective when the CS precedes the US closely in time. Optimal learning occurs with brief delays between CS and US presentation.

14. What is the definition of classical conditioning?

    A learning process that involves associations between stimuli. This forms the foundation of Pavlovian learning theory.

15. Explain the role of predictability in classical conditioning.

    Predictability of the CS-CR association strengthens conditioning. When the CS reliably predicts the US, stronger learning occurs.

16. What is the role of cognitive processes in classical conditioning?

    Cognitive processes influence how associations are formed and interpreted. Expectations and attention affect how associations are formed and maintained.

17. What is an unconditioned stimulus (US)?

    A stimulus that naturally triggers a response. It produces a response without any prior learning or conditioning.

18. Who is the psychologist most associated with classical conditioning?

    Ivan Pavlov. His experiments with dogs established the principles of classical conditioning.

19. Identify the CR in Pavlov's dog experiment.

    Salivation in response to the bell. The learned response that mimics the natural salivation to food.

20. What role does biological predisposition play in classical conditioning?

    Organisms are more easily conditioned to associate stimuli that are biologically relevant. Evolution favors associations that promote survival and reproduction.

21. What is taste aversion, and how does it relate to classical conditioning?

    A learned avoidance of a food after a single pairing with illness. This adaptive mechanism helps organisms avoid potentially harmful foods.

22. Define stimulus discrimination.

    The learned ability to distinguish between a CS and other irrelevant stimuli. This prevents inappropriate responses to irrelevant environmental cues.

23. What is the difference between classical and operant conditioning?

    Classical involves associations between stimuli; operant involves behavior and consequences. Classical is passive stimulus association; operant is active behavior modification.

24. Identify the US in Pavlov's dog experiment.

    Food. The naturally appetizing stimulus that triggers salivation.

25. What is the role of contingency in classical conditioning?

    Contingency refers to the predictability of the CS-US relationship affecting learning strength. Strong CS-US relationships produce more robust conditioned responses.

26. How can classical conditioning be used in therapy?

    It can be used to extinguish phobias through systematic desensitization. Gradual exposure to feared stimuli can reduce conditioned fear responses.

27. What is the difference between excitatory and inhibitory conditioning?

    Excitatory strengthens a CR, while inhibitory weakens or inhibits it. Excitatory increases response probability; inhibitory decreases it.

28. What is an unconditioned response (UR)?

    A natural, unlearned reaction to an unconditioned stimulus. It occurs automatically without any training or conditioning required.

29. How does the Garcia effect demonstrate biological constraints on conditioning?

    It shows that some associations are learned more readily than others due to survival value. It demonstrates biological preparedness for survival-relevant associations.

30. Explain how a conditioned emotional response is formed.

    An emotional reaction, such as fear, is conditioned to a previously neutral stimulus. Neutral stimuli become triggers for emotional states through repeated pairing.

31. What is the term for the initial stage of learning in classical conditioning?

    Acquisition. This is when the CS-US association is first established.

32. What is latent inhibition in classical conditioning?

    The phenomenon where prior exposure to a CS without the US makes later conditioning harder. Familiarity with the CS reduces its effectiveness in future conditioning.

33. Define stimulus generalization.

    The tendency to respond to stimuli similar to the CS. Occurs because similar stimuli activate the same neural pathways.

34. How does the Rescorla-Wagner model explain classical conditioning?

    It suggests that conditioning depends on the predictive value of the CS. Learning occurs when events violate expectations about stimulus relationships.

35. Identify a real-world example of classical conditioning.

    A dog salivating at the sound of a can opener. The can opener sound became a CS through association with food.

36. What is the main difference between first-order and higher-order conditioning?

    First-order involves a direct CS-US pairing; higher-order involves a CS-CS pairing. Higher-order uses an established CS rather than the original US.

37. Identify the CS in Pavlov's dog experiment.

    Bell. The previously neutral sound that became associated with food.

38. What happens to the CR when the CS is repeatedly presented without the US?

    The CR gradually diminishes, leading to extinction. The CS-US association weakens without reinforcement from the US.

39. Which phenomenon occurs when a CR is elicited by a new stimulus that resembles the CS?

    Stimulus generalization. The CR extends to stimuli that share features with the original CS.

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