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Classic Conditioning

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Kimberly Castillo Dr. Blankenship Psychology 100 3/3/2015 Classic Conditioning, defined by Richard A. Griggs, is learning that one stimulus signals the arrival of another stimulus. (141) A stimulus is a phenomenon perceived by the senses. When an initial stimulus is presented within a setting, the response to stimulus is referred to as a reflex. A reflex is a natural and automatic response to the initial stimulus without conscious thinking involved. The first encounter of a given stimulus is referred to as an unconditioned stimulus and the reflexive response is the unconditioned response. However, if the initial stimulus is repetitive, it will become a learned pattern referred to as a conditioned stimulus. When the conditioned stimulus is presented then the reflexive response becomes a learned habit, the conditioned response, as a result of constant repetition of the cyclical phenomenon. (142-143) In an experimental setting, psychologists have the ability to control the stimulus and responses in Classic Conditioning through two methods: delayed conditioning and trace conditioning. The difference between delayed and trace conditioning is when and for how long the stimuli are presented during the conditioning trials. In delayed conditioning, the conditioned stimulus will forego …show more content…

The unconditioned stimulus was the substance (i.e. drugs, cocaine.) After snorting cocaine, for the first time, the individual had experienced an unconditioned response such as coughing, sniffling and a burning sensation in the individual’s sinuses. After repeatedly snorting cocaine, the individual builds up a tolerance for it, causing the individual to become addicted to the narcotic drug. The conditioned stimulus would be the sight of the cocaine and the conditioned response would be to sniffle and cough before snorting the

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