Page 38 - Class Portfolio 2019

UNIT I
PSYCHOLOGICAL FOUNDATIONS OF EDUCATION

MODULE 9
Basic Theory of Learning:
REFLEX OR CLASSICAL CONDITIONING

Objective:

 To differentiate different kinds of situation wherein there is reflex or classical conditioning
involved.

In classical conditioning, the conditioned response is the learned response to the previously
neutral stimulus. For example, the smell of food is an unconditioned stimulus, a feeling of hunger
in response to the smell is an unconditioned response, and the sound of a whistle when you
smell the food is the conditioned stimulus. The conditioned response would be feeling hungry
when you heard the sound of the whistle.

While studying classical conditioning, you might find it helpful to remember that the conditioned
response is the learned reflexive response.

The classical conditioning process is all about pairing a previously neutral stimulus with another
stimulus that naturally produces a response. After pairing the presentation of these two together
enough times, an association is formed. The previously neutral stimulus will then evoke the
response all on its own. At this point, the response becomes known as the conditioned response.
Many phobias begin after a person has had a negative experience with the fear object. For
example, after witnessing a terrible car accident, a person might develop a fear of driving. This
fear is a conditioned response.

In Pavlov's classic experiment, the food represents what is known as the unconditioned
stimulus (UCS). This stimulus naturally and automatically triggers an unconditioned
response (UCR), which in this case was salivation. After pairing the unconditioned stimulus with
a previously neutral stimulus, the sound of the tone, an association is formed between the UCS
and the neutral stimulus. Eventually, the previously neutral stimulus begins to evoke the same
response, at which point the tone becomes known as the conditioned stimulus. Salivating in
response to this conditioned stimulus is an example of a conditioned response. The conditioned
response will only occur after an association has been made between an unconditioned stimulus
and a conditioned stimulus.

So what happens in cases where the unconditioned stimulus is no longer paired with a
conditioned stimulus? In Pavlov's experiment, for example, what would have happened if the
food was no longer present after the sound of the tone? Eventually, the conditioned response
will gradually diminish and even disappear, a process known as extinction.

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