Biological Constraints in Classical Conditioning
What are the biological constraints in Classical Conditioning? Report the procedure and results of two studies supporting your answer.
Word count: 1500 words excluding references
Abstract
A biological constraint in learning theory refers to an inherited tendency to learn and create certain relationships, and it has been said that some species are much more readily than others in learning such behaviour. Therefore it involves the factors which make populations resistant to evolutionary change and the animals biological make up. In this paper I will attempt to explain the bases of the original biological approaches to learning in classical conditioning in humans and animals, make comparison between animals and the association of fears and phobias in humans. I will also discuss the principle of contiguity and premise of equipotentiality as it is said to be incompatible with data from experiments carried out within a biological framework.
Taste Aversion
“Any natural phenomenon chosen at will, may be converted into a conditional stimulus, any visual stimulus, any desired sound, any odour and the simulation of any part of the skin” Pavlov stated that any sort of event which elicits an unconditional response can become associated with the environmental events that precede it. In classical learning, animals associate one stimulus with the correct response by relating an unconditioned response to conditioned stimuli. This theory is supported by researchers such as, Brown and Jenkins, Garcia and Pavlov, and although they use different organisms in their experiments it still relies on the same principals. However, Learning theorists have abandoned the belief that any natural response could be conditioned to any neutral stimulus in any living organism. The reason for this is because species are biologically prepared to learn and create associations, especially when survival is enhanced. For instance, human’s fear of spiders and snakes, or rat’s aversion to tastes
Word count: 1500 words excluding references
Abstract
A biological constraint in learning theory refers to an inherited tendency to learn and create certain relationships, and it has been said that some species are much more readily than others in learning such behaviour. Therefore it involves the factors which make populations resistant to evolutionary change and the animals biological make up. In this paper I will attempt to explain the bases of the original biological approaches to learning in classical conditioning in humans and animals, make comparison between animals and the association of fears and phobias in humans. I will also discuss the principle of contiguity and premise of equipotentiality as it is said to be incompatible with data from experiments carried out within a biological framework.
Taste Aversion
“Any natural phenomenon chosen at will, may be converted into a conditional stimulus, any visual stimulus, any desired sound, any odour and the simulation of any part of the skin” Pavlov stated that any sort of event which elicits an unconditional response can become associated with the environmental events that precede it. In classical learning, animals associate one stimulus with the correct response by relating an unconditioned response to conditioned stimuli. This theory is supported by researchers such as, Brown and Jenkins, Garcia and Pavlov, and although they use different organisms in their experiments it still relies on the same principals. However, Learning theorists have abandoned the belief that any natural response could be conditioned to any neutral stimulus in any living organism. The reason for this is because species are biologically prepared to learn and create associations, especially when survival is enhanced. For instance, human’s fear of spiders and snakes, or rat’s aversion to tastes
References: Mazur, J. (1990) Learning and behaviour (6th edn). New Jersey page 102-107 Domjan, M Seligman, M. (1971) Phobias and preparedness [Online].Available at:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0005789471800643[Accessed 25/11/12]. Hugdahl,K .(1980)Biological vs experiential factors in phobic conditioning[Online]. Available at:http://www.sciencedirect.com.v-ezproxy.brunel.ac.uk:2048/science/article/pii/0005796781900346[Accessed 24/11/12]. Lang,p. (2000) Fear and anxiety: animal models and human cognitive psychophysiology[Online]. Available http://ars.els-cdn.com/content/image/1-s2.0-S0165032700003438-gr8.gif(Accessed: 22/11/12).