Briefly explain the phenomenon of classical conditioning, making sure to include your explanation of what an unconditioned response (UCR) and an unconditioned stimulus (UCS), a conditioned response (CR) and a conditioned stimulus (CS) are.

Answer

Classical conditioning is one of the learning principles and applications . In the learning process , an unconditioned stimulus (UCS is a stimulus that generally results to a specific response without any manipulation or training . For example , the sight of food which may cause salivation among dogs , such as in the famous Pavlov 's experiment . An unconditioned response (UCR ) is the immediate or natural response to the unconditioned stimulus that have been presented or experienced . As in the previous example of Pavlov 's experiment , salivation of the dog is the unconditioned response

to the stimulus of sight of food . After several trials wherein the main goal is to associate a certain stimulus a conditioned stimulus (CS ) presented together with the unconditioned stimulus to be able to elicit the same response until such time that the conditioned response (CR ) results even when the conditioned stimulus is presented alone . In Pavlov 's experiment , the tuning fork was sounded every time food is presented . The sound of the tuning fork represents the conditioned stimulus (CS . As soon as the dog learns to associate the sound of the tuning fork as an indication of upcoming food the conditioned response of salivating results even with the conditioned stimulus of the sound of tuning fork alone . Practical applications of classical conditioning have been used to help extinguish problems of fears , bedwetting problems and other situations where the learner would benefit through association of various stimulus , objects or experiences (Glencoe , 1992

Reference

Glencoe (1992 . Understanding Psychology . USA : Glencoe /McGraw-Hill

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Classical Conditioning...