Psychology Assignment: Short Answers on Classical Conditioning

This assignment provides concise answers to key concepts in psychology. It begins by identifying the unconditioned and conditioned stimuli and responses in Pavlov's experiment, then explains how classical conditioning relates to human phobias. The assignment clarifies the difference between reinforcement and punishment and delves into Martin Seligman's concept of learned helplessness, including its causes. Finally, it explores Albert Bandura's four main processes of observational learning and the types of behaviors that result from this learning process. The answers are supported by references to academic sources.

Running head: SHORT ANSWERS
Short Answers
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Author Note

1SHORT ANSWERS
Answer 1
The unconditioned stimulus in Pavlov’s experiment is dog food, and conditioned
stimulus is the bell’s sound. The conditioned response is salivation which is the response to
dog food and unconditioned response is salivation to the bell’s sound (Rehman et al.).
Answer 2
Conditional-response, for instance, humans showing phobia to dogs that are triggered
by a conditional stimulus which is barking of the dog. The unconditional stimulus the dog’s
appearance to which the unconditional response that is fear can happen whereas conditional-
response is fear or phobia to dog’s barking (Rehman et al.).
Answer 3
Reinforcement is the possibility of strengthening a response whereas punishment is
the probability of suppressing a response. Positive reinforcement stimulates hard work by
appraisal whereas positive punishment decreases a behavior on addition of undesirable
stimulus. Negative reinforcement stimulates behavior and negative punishment decreases
behavior when an undesirable and pleasant stimulus is removed respectively
(Education.gov.gy).
Answer 4
According to Martin Seligman, learned helplessness, a response is generated by a
subject after it has endured repetitive unpleasant stimuli that are out of their control.
It is caused by loss of self-efficacy that subjects feel powerlessness in response to
negative stimuli and discontinues to run away from the stimulus even if they have alternatives
to avoid it (Maier and Seligman).

2SHORT ANSWERS
Answer 5
Processes of observational learning include- paying attention to the happenings of the
surroundings, retention of observation, initiating execution of the act and motivation to
recreate observed behavior.
Behavioral changes include- acquisition of new behavior, changes in the frequency of
the learned behavior, encouraging prohibited behavior and behvioural change influenced by
models (Bandura).
1.

3SHORT ANSWERS
References
Bandura, Albert, ed. Psychological modeling: Conflicting theories. Transaction Publishers,
2017.
Education.gov.gy. "What Is The Difference Between Reinforcement And
Punishment?." Education.gov.gy. N.p., 2020. Web. 19 Feb. 2020.
Maier, Steven F., and Martin EP Seligman. "Learned helplessness at fifty: Insights from
neuroscience." Psychological review 123.4 (2016): 349.
Rehman, Ibraheem, Navid Mahabadi, and Chaudhry I. Rehman. "Classical
Conditioning." StatPearls [Internet]. StatPearls Publishing, 2019.