Chapter 3: Respondent (Classical/Pavlovian) Conditioning of Reflexive Behavior
Haley Beisler, Precious Burton, Aryn Gribler
Principle of Respondent Conditioning
Behavioral Principles and Procedures
Common Respondently Conditioned Responses
- Essentially ways of manipulating stimuli in order to influence behavior
- We will describe basic principles and procedures of Respondent Conditioning (Pavlovian Conditioning - Ivan Pavlov or Classical Conditioning - First type to be identified)
Respondent Behaviors: Behaviors elicited by prior stimuli and are not affected by their consequences
Example: Salivating when smelling dinner
Unconditioned Reflex: A stimulus-response relationship without any prior learning
Example: "Hard-wired" or inborn
Unconditioned Stimulus: Stimulus that elicits as response without prior learning or conditioning
Unconditioned Response: A response elicited by an unconditioned stimulus
US vs. UR
Food > Salivation
High Temperature > Sweating
Digestive System:
The salivation reflex is one of the only digestive reflexes that are susceptible to Pavlovian Conditioning
- Example: Lemon gin in the stomach was causing US and nausea as a UR. The taste and smell of lemon gin became a CS.
Circulatory System:
- Feeling embarrassed or having socially inappropriate thoughts are all CSs.
Respiratory System:
- Pavlovian conditioning has also been implicated in influencing coughing, sneezing, and asthma attacks. Dekker and Groen (1956) reported that asthmatic responses have been elicited by such CSs as the sight of horses, birds, etc.
Other Systems:
- Biological Preparedness
- Conditioned taste aversion
Higher-Order Conditioning:
Principle of Respondent Conditioning
The procedure in which a neutral stimulus becomes a conditioned stimulus by being paired with another conditioned stimulus, instead of with an unconditioned stimulus.
Example:
1. Child experiencing painful stimuli several times. (Unconditioned Stimulus > Unconditioned Response)
2. Suppose that a parent yells "watch out".
(CS)
3. If the parent utters the same warning for other activities - Gain a general fear
Result: Elicits a response similar to the elicited by painful stimuli.
Conditioned Reflex: When a stimulus elicits a response because of prior respondent conditioning.
Conditioned Stimulus: The stimulus in a conditioned reflex
Conditioned Response: The response in a conditioned reflex.
Procedure: Pair neutral stimulus and unconditioned stimulus
Many Pairings NS (sound of classical music)
US (food in mouth) > UR (salivation)
Result: Neutral stimulus acquires ability to elicit response
CS (sound of classical music) > CR (salivation)
Procedures for Eliminating a Conditioned Reflex
Generalization and Discrimination of Respondent Behavior
Applications of Respondent Conditioning and Extinction
An Introduction to Operant Conditioning
Respondent Extinction
Procedure: Present conditioned stimulus repeatedly without furthering pairings with the unconditioned stimulus
Repeated Trials CS (sight of dog) > CR (fear)
Result: Conditioned stimulus loses ability to elicit conditioned response
Stimulus (sight of dog) > No fear reaction
Treatments:
- Fear in a Young Figure Skater
- Aversion Therapy to Treat Alcoholism
- Chronic Constipation
- Nocturnal Enuresis (Bed-Wetting)
Respondent Stimulus Generalization: When an organism has been conditioned so that a particular CS elicits a CR and then a similar stimulus elicits that CR.
Example - Dentist office and drill / Sound of drill eliciting response
Respondent Stimulus Discrimination: A stimulus functions as a CS to elicit a CR because that stimulus has been paired with a US that elicits that CR, but a similar stimulus does not function as a CS for that CR because the second stimulus has been extinction trials.
Example - Experience repeated episodes without pain causes distinction
Reflexes = Respondent Conditioning (Automatic Responses to Stimuli)
Behavior that is influenced by consequences = Operant Behavior
Example:
Turning on water to drink
vs.
Not touching a hot stove
Counterconditioning
Example:
A child who acquired a fear of the sight of dogs. Then this child plays with a friend who has become a CS eliciting feelings of happiness as a CR, and let's suppose that this friend has a dog that does not bark loudly. As the positive conditioned emotional responses will help counteract the negative emotional responses. > This leads to more quickly and effectively eliminating the negative responses.