Name:__________________________________________ Date:__________________

Handout 2.4: Associative Learning–Classical Conditioning

The behavioral perspective takes the stance that everything is learned. For example, look at the case of Little Albert. Albert was a young child who was conditioned to fear white rats. The association of fear to rat was learned via classical conditioning. That is, Albert was exposed to a rat (neutral stimuli) then a loud noise (UCS and an aversive stimuli). He showed a fear response to the aversive stimuli by jumping up and crying (UCR). After many trials, Albert showed the fear response (CR) to the stimuli of rat (CS). This is classical conditioning. For the following examples, fill in the unconditioned stimuli and response as well as the conditioned stimuli and response.

1. Bethany is sitting outside sunbathing when a spider crawls on her leg and bites her. She jumps up and yells in pain. Now when she sees a spider, she jumps and yells.

UCS: bites her

UCR: she jumps up and yells in pain

CS: spider

CR: when she sees a spider, she jumps and yells

2. Ramon is in the mall parking garage when a man holding a gun to his head attacks him. He screams in fear. Now Ramon shudders with fear whenever he sees a parking garage.

UCS: a man holding a gun to his head

UCR: he screams in fear

CS: parking garage

CR: shudders with fear

3. Simone was only 5 when she was on a plane that almost crashed. She remembers the plan landing very hard and bouncing all over the runway and being very afraid. Now when Simone thinks about flying, she becomes very afraid.

UCS: the plane landing very hard and bouncing all over the runaway

UCR: being very afraid

CS: flying

CR: very afraid of flying

4. Tamika lives in an old dorm on campus that has a plumbing issue. One day, she was taking a shower when someone flushed the toilet and all the cold water went out and the hot water burned her. She yelled and jumped out of the way. Now when she is in the shower, if someone flushes, she jumps out of the way.

UCS: when someone flushed the toilet and cold water went out and the hot water burned her

UCR: she yelled and jumped out of the way

CS: if someone flashes

CR: she jumps out of the way

5. Dave was out with his friends one day when they decided to go white water rafting, unfortunately, the boat immediately overturned and Dave wound up on the wrong side of the river, away from everyone else and with no access. It took hours for rescuers to cross to him and rescue him. While he waited he became anxious and fearful. Now when his friends suggest any activity on the river, Dave becomes anxious and fearful.

UCS: the boat immediately overturned and Dave wound up on the wrong side of the river, away from everyone else and with no access

UCR: while he waited he became anxious and fearful

CS: any activity on the river

CR: becomes anxious and fearful