Question

An experiment on classical conditioning involves the presentation of two stimuli of different intensities. When presented individually, it is observed from the experiment that the stimulus of greater intensity elicits a CR. while the stimulus of lesser intensity does not elicit a CR. This is most likely an experiment on

O a. pseudoconditioning
O b. sensory preconditioning
O covershadowing
O d. sensitization

Answer 1

The experiment described is an example of classical conditioning, specifically the 'overshadowing' effect, where a more intense conditioned stimulus overshadows a less intense one, preventing an association with the unconditioned stimulus and the conditioned response.

• In classical conditioning, an organism learns to respond to a conditioned stimulus (CS) that does not naturally elicit a response because it has been paired with an unconditioned stimulus (US) that does produce a natural, unlearned response.
• In the scenario described in the question, two stimuli of different intensities are presented, with only the more intense one eliciting the conditioned response (CR).
• The phenomenon where a more intense CS overshadows a less intense CS, preventing the less intense one from being associated with the US and thereby eliciting a CR, is known as overshadowing.
• This is because the more intense CS is more salient and therefore more readily associated with the US during the conditioning process.