Psychology 1000 Chapter Notes - Chapter 7: Classical Conditioning, Little Albert Experiment, Aversion Therapy

• School: Western University
• Department: Psychology
• Course: Psychology 1000
• Professor: Laura Fazakas- De Hoog

Document Summary

Learning- is a process by which experience produces a relatively enduring change in an o(cid:396)ga(cid:374)is(cid:373)s" (cid:271)eha(cid:448)iou(cid:396) a(cid:374)d (cid:272)apa(cid:271)ilities. Behaviouralists are focused on how organisms learn, examining the process by which experience influences behaviour. Cognitive and environmental factors play an important role in learning. Habituation- decrease in the strength of response to a repeated stimulus. By learning not to respond to uneventful stimuli = saved energy and can attend to other stimuli. Different from sensory adaptation as sensory adaptation refers to a decreased sensory response to a continuous stimulus, habituation occurs within the ns. May habituate to a stimulus but the sensory info is still available if it becomes relevant. Sensitization- increase in the strength of response to a repeated stimulus. E. x. you hear a loud sound and you get startled will show reflex. Sound presented again, and have an increased reaction. Purpose is to increase responses to a potentially dangerous stimulus.