This files accompanies a video on my youtube channel 'Psyccounting'. It goes through the definition of Classical Conditioning along with the 5 elements of C.C, with 2 examples to reinforce concepts of C.C

1. Classical Conditioning
Definition: learning through
repeated association of 2 or
more stimuli

2. Elements of Classical Conditioning
Element Definition Examples
Neutral A stimulus (prior to Bell, foods (that
Stimulus conditioning) that subsequently result in
doesn’t evoke a an aversion as a result
response of food poisoning)
Unconditioned Any stimulus which Meat powder (Pavlov’s
Stimulus produces a (naturally dog), contaminated pie
occurring) automatic (naturally results in
response illness/nausea)
Conditioned A stimulus (that is Sound of a
Stimulus neutral at start of bell, sight/smell of
conditioning process meat pie
& does not normally
produce UCR) through
repeated association
with CS triggers same
response as UCS.

3. Elements of Classical Conditioning
Element Definition Examples
Unconditioned Occurs Salivation in response
Response automatically when to smell of meat
UCS is presented, powder, illness in
(it’s reflexive/ response to eating
involuntary) contaminated food
Conditioned Is behaviour - which Salivation in response
Response is similar (BUT NOT to the sound of a bell,
NECESSARILY THE
SAME) to the UCR, nausea in response to
which is triggered by site/ smell of a pie.
the CS after
conditioning.
Conditioned
responses are
Learned (KEY POINT)

4. Application of C.C
• Example 1
• Drew goes to a
restaurant and orders
Scallops, the Scallops
turn out to be
contaminated and
Drew suffers from a
bad case of food
poisoning.
• Now whenever Drew
sees or smell
scallops he feels
nauseous:
• Required – Identify
the NS, UCS, CS,
UCR, CR

5. Solution – to example 1
Neutral
Stimulus
Unconditioned
Stimulus
Conditioned
Stimulus
Unconditioned
Response
Conditioned
Response

6. Solution – to example 1
Neutral Scallops
Stimulus
Unconditioned Contamination (of Scallops)
Stimulus
Conditioned Sight/ smell of Scallops
Stimulus
Unconditioned Illness – food poisoning as a result of
Response eating contaminated scallops
Conditioned Feeling nauseous at sight/ smell of
Response scallops

7. Application of C.C
• Example 2
• Lebron waits for the
train at Box Hill station
one night and gets
beaten up by a gang of
thugs resulting in
various painful injuries
• Now Lebron feels highly
anxious when in the
vicinity of the Box Hill
train station:
• Required – Identify the
NS, UCS, CS, UCR, CR

8. Solution – to example 2
Neutral
Stimulus
Unconditioned
Stimulus
Conditioned
Stimulus
Unconditioned
Response
Conditioned
Response

9. Solution – to example 2
Neutral The Box Hill train station
Stimulus
Unconditioned Getting beaten up by thugs
Stimulus
Conditioned Being in the vicinity of Box Hill train
Stimulus station
Unconditioned The painful injuries resulting from the
Response beating by the gang of thugs
Conditioned Feeling highly anxious when in the
Response vicinity of the Box Hill train station