Posted: October 18th, 2023

Conditioned response: general aspects

Conditioned response: general aspects
Conditioned response is a term used in psychology to describe a learned behavior that occurs as a result of a stimulus and a reward or punishment. For example, if a dog is given a treat every time it hears a bell, it will learn to associate the bell with the treat and salivate when it hears the sound. This is an example of a positive conditioned response, where the stimulus (bell) elicits a desirable behavior (salivation). A negative conditioned response, on the other hand, is when the stimulus (bell) elicits an undesirable behavior (fear) because it is paired with an unpleasant outcome (shock). For example, if a dog is shocked every time it hears a bell, it will learn to associate the bell with the shock and fear when it hears the sound.

Conditioned responses are important for understanding how humans and animals learn from their environment and adapt to different situations. They can also be used to modify or change existing behaviors, such as phobias, addictions, or habits. For example, a person who is afraid of spiders can be exposed to pictures of spiders while receiving positive reinforcement, such as praise or rewards. This can help them to form a new conditioned response that reduces their fear of spiders. Similarly, a person who is addicted to smoking can be exposed to cues that trigger their craving, such as seeing a cigarette or smelling smoke, while receiving negative reinforcement, such as unpleasant tastes or smells. This can help them to form a new conditioned response that reduces their desire to smoke.

Conditioned responses are not fixed or permanent, however. They can be weakened or extinguished over time if the stimulus is no longer paired with the outcome. For example, if the dog that was given a treat every time it heard a bell stops receiving the treat, it will gradually stop salivating when it hears the sound. This is called extinction, and it can reverse the effects of conditioning. However, extinction does not erase the conditioned response completely. It can be reactivated or restored if the stimulus is paired with the outcome again. For example, if the dog that stopped salivating when it heard the bell receives the treat again, it will quickly resume salivating when it hears the sound. This is called spontaneous recovery, and it shows that conditioned responses can be relearned.

Conditioned responses are general aspects of learning that apply to many different types of behaviors and situations. They are influenced by various factors, such as the frequency, intensity, and timing of the stimulus and the outcome, as well as the individual characteristics of the learner. They are also subject to various phenomena, such as generalization, discrimination, and higher-order conditioning. These concepts will be discussed in more detail in the following sections.

References:

– McLeod, S. A. (2018). Classical conditioning. Simply Psychology. https://www.simplypsychology.org/classical-conditioning.html
– Myers, D. G., & DeWall, C. N. (2017). Psychology (12th ed.). Worth Publishers.
– Pavlov, I. P. (1927). Conditioned reflexes: An investigation of the physiological activity of the cerebral cortex (G. V. Anrep, Trans.). Oxford University Press.
– Watson, J. B., & Rayner, R. (1920). Conditioned emotional reactions. Journal of Experimental Psychology, 3(1), 1-14.

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