Classical Conditioning Theory Learning

When a subject is conditioned to fear dogs, they may generalize this fear to other similar animals, such as lions, cats, and horses, as they share some physical and behavioral characteristics with dogs. However, fish are very different from dogs in terms of appearance, behavior, and habitat, so the subject is less likely to generalize their fear to fish. Therefore, the subject could generalize fear to lions, cats, and horses, but not fish.

When the conditioned stimulus is no longer paired with the unconditioned stimulus, extinction occurs. This means that the previously learned association between the conditioned and unconditioned stimulus weakens and eventually disappears. As a result, the conditioned stimulus no longer elicits the conditioned response. Extinction is a form of learning that involves the gradual reduction of a learned behavior or response when the reinforcement or reward is no longer present.

The term "building" refers to the process of gradually strengthening or developing a response or behavior. In this context, response acquisition is the phase where the desired response is being built or established through learning and practice.

Blocking usually results from prior conditioning. This refers to a phenomenon in which a previously learned association between a conditioned stimulus (CS) and an unconditioned stimulus (US) prevents the formation of a new association between a different CS and the same US. In other words, if an individual has already learned to associate a particular stimulus with a certain outcome, they may be less likely to form a new association with a different stimulus and the same outcome.

Intermittent pairing refers to the practice of periodically pairing a stimulus with a response. This technique is used in learning and conditioning experiments. The answer suggests that intermittent pairing reduces both the rate of learning and the final level of learning achieved. This means that when the pairing between a stimulus and a response is intermittent, the learning process becomes slower and the overall level of learning attained is lower compared to continuous or regular pairing.

In classical conditioning, an unconditioned response must be paired with a neutral/conditioned stimulus in order for it to be considered classical conditioning. This means that the response should be an automatic and involuntary reaction that occurs naturally, without any prior learning or conditioning. The unconditioned response is typically a reflex or instinctive behavior that is triggered by the presence of a specific stimulus.

Conditioned food aversions require only one bad experience. This means that after a single negative experience with a certain food, an individual may develop an aversion or dislike towards that food. This aversion is a conditioned response, where the person associates the negative experience with the taste or smell of the food, leading to a lasting aversion.

Learning may be defined as a relatively permanent change in behavior that occurs as the result of experience. This means that the change in behavior that happens through learning is not temporary or short-lived, but rather lasts over time. It implies that the knowledge or skills acquired through learning are retained and can be applied in the future. This distinguishes learning from temporary changes in behavior that may occur due to factors like fatigue or temporary motivation.

Higher order conditioning refers to the process of pairing a neutral stimulus with a conditioned stimulus to create a new conditioned stimulus. It is difficult to achieve because of the possibility of extinction. This means that if the conditioned stimulus is repeatedly presented without the unconditioned stimulus, the conditioned response will eventually weaken and disappear. In higher order conditioning, the new conditioned stimulus relies on the original conditioned stimulus to evoke a response. If the original conditioned stimulus becomes extinct, the new conditioned stimulus will also lose its ability to elicit a response. Therefore, the possibility of extinction makes higher order conditioning difficult to achieve.