Higher Order Conditioning Flashcards, test questions and answers
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What is Higher Order Conditioning?
Higher Order Conditioning is a form of classical conditioning that occurs when an initially neutral stimulus becomes associated with a previously conditioned response. This type of conditioning differs from the traditional process in which a previously neutral stimulus is paired with an unconditioned stimulus and then elicits the same response as the unconditioned stimulus. With higher order conditioning, the previously conditioned stimulus serves as both the conditioned and unconditioned stimuli and elicits a response from the subject.An example of higher order conditioning can be seen in Pavlov’s famous experiment with dogs. In this experiment, he paired a bell (neutral stimulus) with food (unconditioned stimulus) so that when he rang the bell, his dogs would salivate (conditioned response). He then further demonstrated higher order conditioning by pairing another neutral stimulus (a light) with the bell so that when he turned on the light, his dogs would salivate even though they had not been exposed to food yet. Higher order conditioning has many useful applications in psychology today. It can be used to help people overcome phobias by pairing fear-evoking stimuli like spiders or needles with initially neutral stimuli such as pleasant music or pleasant smells until these initial neutral stimuli elicit an automatic relaxation response instead of fear/anxiety responses. It can also be used to help people create new habits and make positive behavior changes by associating desired behaviors with rewards such as money or praise until these rewards become their own reward for engaging in desired behaviors without needing external reinforcement anymore. Overall, higher order conditioning is an important tool for psychologists to shape behavior and increase emotional regulation skills in their patients. By understanding how this type of learning works, practitioners are better equipped to help their patients develop healthier coping strategies and build more productive lives free from intrusive thoughts or distressful emotions caused by unhelpful associations between certain elements in their environment.