PSYCH 1X03 Lecture Notes - Classical Conditioning
14 Apr 2013
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Document Summary
Unconscious, reflexive learning is vital to the survival of a species; a child only needs to touch a hot stove once to learn to avoid glowing red elements to prevent pain and injury, etc. There are 2 important unconscious learning processes: classical conditioning and instrumental conditioning. Classical conditioning allows us to associate two related events. Instrumental conditioning allows us to associate actions and consequences. Ivan pavlov- made an observation that dogs would salivate even before the delivery of food in their mouth. It was as if an early step in the process of digestion was triggered even before the food stimulus arrived. The sound of a metronome signaled to a dog that food was about to be delivered. Prior to training, the sound of the metronome had no observable effect on the dog"s behaviour. But following training, a dog would begin salivating in response to the sound of the metronome alone. This new behaviour was called a conditional reflex.
