: Explain how the following concepts apply to the Little Albert experiment: stimulus generalization, stimulus discrimination, extinction, and spontaneous recovery.

The Little Albert experiment presents an example of how classical conditioning can be used to condition an emotional response.

Explanation:

Neutral Stimulus (NS)

A stimulus (prior to conditioning) that does not evoke a response. E.g. in the Little Albert experiment the white rat was the neutral stimulus.

Unconditioned Stimulus (UCS)

Any stimulus which produces a naturally occurring automatic response. E.g. a loud noise (created by a hammer struck against the steel bar).

Unconditioned Response (UCR)

A natural response which occurs when the UCS is presented. In the Little Albert Experiment fear was the unconditioned response.

Conditioned Stimulus (CS)

A conditioned stimulus is a substitute stimulus that triggers the same response in an organism as an unconditioned stimulus. Simply put, a conditioned stimulus makes an organism react to something because it is associated with something else. In the Little Albert Experiment the white rat was the conditioned stimulus.

Conditioned Response (CR)

Behavior which is similar (but not necessarily the same) to the UCR, which is triggered by the CS after classical conditioning. Conditioned responses are learned. E.g. fear when presentation with the white rat.

Extinction

The dying out of a conditioned response by breaking the association between the C.S. and the U.C.S.

Spontaneous Recovery

The return of a conditioned response (in a weaker form) after a period of time following extinction.

Generalisation

When a stimulus similar to the C.S. also elicits a response. E.g., Albert was scared of a white rat, and a fur coat, some cotton wool and a Father Christmas mask.

Discrimination

The opposite of generalisation i.e. the ability of the subject to tell the difference between two similar stimuli. E.g. Albert was happy to play with building blocks at any time.

Neutral Stimulus: A stimulus that does not initially elicit a response (the white rat).

Unconditioned Stimulus: A stimulus that elicits a reflexive response (the loud noise).

Unconditioned Response: A natural reaction to a given stimulus (fear).

Conditioned Stimulus: A stimulus that elicits a response after repeatedly being paired with an unconditioned stimulus (the white rat).

Conditioned Response: The response caused by the conditioned stimulus (fear).

See below and paraphrase to avoid plagiarism... :)

Explanation:

Stimulus generalization is the idea that the effects of conditioning can spread to stimuli that differ in ways from the stimulus that was present during the initial conditioning. In the Little Albert experiment, stimulus generalization is when Little Albert becomes fearful of a rabbit, a dog, & a seal-skin coat. Stimulus discrimination is the ability to tell the difference between stimuli. In the Little Albert experiment, stimulus discrimination is when Little Albert wasn't fearful of a fuzzy teddy bear. Extinction is the gradual decline in the conditioned response achieved by presenting the CS alone or by presenting the CS & the UCS separately. In the Little Albert experiment, extinction is when Little Albert's fear disappeared for a while after the white rat was no longer paired by a loud noise. Spontaneous recovery follows extinction and is the sudden, unplanned reappearance of the CR. In the Little Albert experiment, spontaneous recovery is when Little Albert's fear suddenly reappeared after extinction had taken place.