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Simple Stimulus Learning

In: Philosophy and Psychology

Submitted By dbellamy
Words 1285
Pages 6
Simple Stimulus Learning
Detra Mathias
PSYCH/535
Dr. Ming Zheng February 11, 2013

Simple Stimulus Learning Learning involves obtaining new knowledge. Learning involves exposure to various stimuli within one’s environment. An organism’s behavior is the result of learning to respond to stimuli. Animals and humans acquire knowledge through simple stimulus learning. The purpose of this paper is to explain the concept of habituation, evaluate issues affecting perceptual learning, and examine outcomes of stimulus exposure. In addition, this paper will discuss the application of simple stimulus leaning to two real life situations.
Concept of Habilitation Habituation is a decrease in response after constantly introducing an unconditioned stimulus within the environment. It involves the basic changes that occur in an organism as a result of learning. An organism will respond less to a stimulus; the more it is introduced to the organism’s environment, and the organism becomes more familiar with the stimulus (Sullivan, 2009). For example, an individual receives a new cell phone and the ring tone alert for notifications initially startles him or her. However, after becoming familiar with the sound, the individual pays less attention to the sound and his or her response diminishes. Habilitation demonstrates that organisms have an inborn desire to experience and learn more about his or her environment. It shows organisms are capable of distinguishing between differences in his or her environment and later recalling those differences. Babies are able to remember. If an old toy and a new toy were given to a baby to explore, he or she would grasp for the new toy. The baby already remembers exploring

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For example, a stomach virus (UCS) would produce a response of nausea (UCR). In another example a perfume (UCS) could create a response of happiness or desire (UCR).

This stage also involves another stimulus which has no affect on a person and is called the neutral stimulus (NS). The NS could be a person, object, place etc. The neutral stimulus in classical conditioning does not produce a response until it is paired with the unconditioned stimulus.
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