Behaviourism: classical conditioning worksheet - Free Printable

Let's solve this step-by-step based on classical conditioning, using the provided images and labels.

---

🔍 Understanding Classical Conditioning

In classical conditioning (as demonstrated by Pavlov), a neutral stimulus becomes associated with an unconditioned stimulus, eventually triggering a conditioned response.

- Unconditioned Stimulus (UCS): Naturally triggers a response.
- Unconditioned Response (UCR): Natural, automatic response to the UCS.
- Neutral Stimulus (NS): Initially does not trigger a response.
- Conditioned Stimulus (CS): The neutral stimulus that, after pairing, triggers a response.
- Conditioned Response (CR): Learned response to the CS.

---

🌩️ Scenario: Lightning and Thunder

From the images:
- Thunder → causes a startled reaction (wincing) → this is natural.
- Lightning → initially does not cause a reaction, but after repeated pairing with thunder, it starts to cause anticipation and wincing.

So:

| Term | Example |
|------|--------|
| Unconditioned Stimulus (UCS) | Thunder (BOOM!) – naturally causes a startle |
| Unconditioned Response (UCR) | Startled reaction; wincing – natural response to thunder |
| Neutral Stimulus (NS) | Lightning – at first, no effect |
| Conditioned Stimulus (CS) | Lightning – after pairing, it triggers a response |
| Conditioned Response (CR) | Anticipation of thunder; wincing – learned response to lightning |

---

✔ Step 1: BEFORE CONDITIONING

Before any learning occurs:
- Lightning is a neutral stimulus (no response).
- Thunder is an unconditioned stimulus → leads to unconditioned response (startled reaction).

> So:
> - Lightning → Neutral Stimulus
> - Thunder → Unconditioned Stimulus
> - Startled reaction; wincing → Unconditioned Response

✔ Sequence (Before Conditioning):
```
[Lightning] → [No response]
[Thunder] → [Startled reaction; wincing]
```

But since we're showing the relationship:
We can represent it as:
```
Thunder → Startled reaction; wincing
```
And Lightning has no effect.

So in the boxes:
- First box: Lightning → Label: Neutral Stimulus
- Second box: Thunder → Label: Unconditioned Stimulus
- Third box: Startled reaction; wincing → Label: Unconditioned Response

But note: the diagram shows two inputs leading to one output. So likely:
- Thunder → Startled reaction
- Lightning is irrelevant here.

Wait — actually, the format seems to be:
- Before conditioning: Unconditioned Stimulus → Unconditioned Response
- And the neutral stimulus is separate.

So for Before Conditioning:
- We show: Thunder → Startled reaction; wincing
- And Lightning is shown separately as a neutral stimulus.

So fill in:
- Box 1: Thunder → Unconditioned Stimulus
- Box 2: Startled reaction; wincing → Unconditioned Response
- Box 3: Lightning → Neutral Stimulus

But the arrow goes from left to right. So likely:
- Left: Thunder → Middle: → Right: Startled reaction

So:
> BEFORE CONDITIONING
> - Thunder → Startled reaction; wincing
> - Lightning is a separate neutral stimulus (not yet paired)

But since there are three boxes, perhaps:
- Box 1: Thunder (UCS)
- Box 2: → (arrow)
- Box 3: Startled reaction; wincing (UCR)

And Lightning is shown elsewhere as NS.

So yes.

---

✔ Step 2: DURING CONDITIONING

This is when pairing happens: Lightning + Thunder together.

- Lightning (formerly neutral) is now paired with Thunder (UCS).
- Over time, the person learns to associate lightning with thunder.

So:
- Lightning → Neutral Stimulus (but being paired)
- Thunder → Unconditioned Stimulus
- Together → Startled reaction

But the diagram shows two boxes with "PAIRING" between them.

So:
- Left box: Lightning → Neutral Stimulus
- Right box: Thunder → Unconditioned Stimulus

Then the pairing means they occur together.

Eventually, lightning alone will elicit a response.

---

✔ Step 3: AFTER CONDITIONING

Now, lightning alone causes anticipation and wincing — even without thunder.

So:
- Lightning → Conditioned Stimulus
- → Anticipation of booming thunder; wincing → Conditioned Response

So:
- Left box: Lightning → Conditioned Stimulus
- Right box: Anticipation of booming thunder; wincing → Conditioned Response

---

🧩 Final Answer:

#### 1) BEFORE CONDITIONING
- Box 1: Thunder → Unconditioned Stimulus
- Box 2: → (arrow)
- Box 3: Startled reaction; wincing → Unconditioned Response

> *Note:* Lightning is not part of this chain yet — it’s neutral and doesn’t trigger anything.

#### 2) DURING CONDITIONING
- Left box: Lightning → Neutral Stimulus
- Right box: Thunder → Unconditioned Stimulus
- Between them: PAIRING

> This shows the association being formed.

#### 3) AFTER CONDITIONING
- Left box: Lightning → Conditioned Stimulus
- Right box: Anticipation of booming thunder; wincing → Conditioned Response

---

🔤 Summary of Labels:

| Term | What It Is |
|------|------------|
| Unconditioned Stimulus (UCS) | Thunder |
| Unconditioned Response (UCR) | Startled reaction; wincing |
| Neutral Stimulus (NS) | Lightning (before pairing) |
| Conditioned Stimulus (CS) | Lightning (after pairing) |
| Conditioned Response (CR) | Anticipation of thunder; wincing |

---

✔ Final Filled Diagram:

#### 1) BEFORE CONDITIONING
```
[Thunder] → [Startled reaction; wincing]
(UCS) (UCR)
```

#### 2) DURING CONDITIONING
```
[Lightning] ←→ [Thunder]
(NS) (UCS)
PAIRING
```

#### 3) AFTER CONDITIONING
```
[Lightning] → [Anticipation of booming thunder; wincing]
(CS) (CR)
```

---

✔️ Answer Key:

| Image | Label |
|-------|-------|
| Thunder (BOOM!) | Unconditioned Stimulus |
| Startled reaction; wincing | Unconditioned Response |
| Lightning (first one) | Neutral Stimulus |
| Lightning (second one) | Conditioned Stimulus |
| Anticipation of thunder; wincing | Conditioned Response |

> Note: The same image of lightning appears twice — once as neutral, once as conditioned.

---

✔ Final Box Fill-ins:

#### 1) BEFORE CONDITIONING
- Box 1: Thunder → Unconditioned Stimulus
- Box 2: → (arrow)
- Box 3: Startled reaction; wincing → Unconditioned Response

#### 2) DURING CONDITIONING
- Box 1: Lightning → Neutral Stimulus
- Box 2: Thunder → Unconditioned Stimulus

#### 3) AFTER CONDITIONING
- Box 1: Lightning → Conditioned Stimulus
- Box 2: Anticipation of booming thunder; wincing → Conditioned Response

---

This reflects classical conditioning: Lightning (NS) becomes CS after being paired with Thunder (UCS), which elicits a CR (anticipation/wincing).