Introduction to Psychology: Learning, Classical Conditioning, Operant Conditioning, and Social Learning

Running head: INTRODUCTION TO PSYCHOLOGY
INTRODUCTION TO PSYCHOLOGY
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author note

INTRODUCTION TO PSYCHOLOGY1
TASK A
1. Define learning and explain the simplest form of learning: Habituation.
The process through which an individual acquires new, or expands and reinforces
existing knowledge, skills, behavior, values or preferences and utilizes them to synthesize
different bits of information is called learning (De Houwer, Barnes-Holmes, ]and Moors
2013).
Habituation is the simplest form of learning in humans as well as other higher level living
organisms. It involves gradual desensitization of the organism towards a particular
stimulus after repeated presentations of the stimulus. In the process of habituation, the
organism gradually learns to understand that the stimulus holds no consequence for them
and thus gradually stops responding to them altogether (Schmid, Wilson, and Rankin
2015).
2. Describe the basic principles underlying classical conditioning [include the concepts
of neutral stimulus, unconditioned stimulus, conditioned stimulus, unconditioned
response, conditioned response].
Classical (also known as Pavlovian or Respondent) Conditioning is a process of learning
in which the response to a potent stimulus comes under the effect of an underlying
neutral stimulus. Classical conditioning is achieved by pairing the neutral stimulus with
the potent stimulus (Tighe and Leaton 2016).

INTRODUCTION TO PSYCHOLOGY2
Neutral Stimulus – The type of stimulus which is usually not followed by a response. In
Pavlov’s experiment the sound of the tuning fork can be considered a neutral stimulus
because it did not make the dog salivate in response.
Unconditioned stimulus – This type of stimulus is innate and biologically potent and does
not require explicit presentation to elicit an explicit response. The smell or taste of food
that triggers salivation is an unconditioned stimulus.
Unconditioned response – It is the type of response associated with an unconditioned
stimulus. Salivation at the sight/smell of food is an unconditioned response.
Conditioned stimulus – The type of stimulus which is generated by mixing a neutral
stimulus with an unconditioned stimulus to generate an unconditioned response. The
sound of the tuning fork mixed with the presentation of the food is a conditioned
stimulus.
Conditioned response – It is similar to unconditioned response but differs in the way it is
elicited. Conditioned response is brought out through conditioned stimulus when it is
unpaired from the neutral stimulus. After learning, the sound of the tuning fork elicits
salivation in dogs (Tighe and Leaton 2016).
3. Describe the basic principles underlying operant conditioning [include the concepts
of positive reinforcement, negative reinforcement and punishment].