Chapter 3: Classical Conditioning

Overview of Classical Conditioning

• Involves automatic, involuntary, unlearned behaviors
• These are called elicited behaviors: behaviors automatically drawn out by a certain stimulus
• Examples:
  • Startle response to a loud noise
  • Eyes watering in response to dust or dirt

Types of Elicited Behaviors

1. Reflexes

   • Simple automatic responses to stimuli
   • Examples:
     • Startle response
     • Orienting response: turning towards a sound
   • Purpose: Survival mechanism, e.g., preparing to flee or defend from predators

2. Fixed Action Patterns (FAPs)

   • Unlearned, fixed sequences of responses elicited by specific stimuli
   • Difference from reflexes: Reflexes are simple responses, FAPs are sequences or chains of responses
   • Adaptive responses evolved to cope with environmental stimuli
   • Examples:
     • Animals covering excrement to avoid predators
     • Squirrels storing nuts for winter
     • Bears hibernating
   • Trigger stimuli: Changes in temperature, presence of food or predators, etc.
   • Maladaptive scenarios: When rapid environmental changes occur, e.g., deer zigzagging in front of cars

Adaptive Nature of Behavior

• Organisms that can learn/adapt behaviors to changing environments have better survival chances
• Quick adaptation is crucial in changing environments

Debate on Human Fixed Action Patterns

• Controversy over whether humans have FAPs:
  • For: Examples like contagious yawning suggest possible human FAPs
  • Against: Much of human behavior is learned and culturally transmitted, reducing reliance on instinctual responses
• Ongoing debate without a clear consensus

These notes cover the key ideas from the lecture on classical conditioning, focusing on the nature and types of elicited behaviors, their adaptive purposes, and the debate regarding their existence in humans.