Please give an example.

Question

Come up with an example of classical conditioning in your own life or in the real world. Be sure to identify the unconditioned stimulus, unconditioned response, conditioned stimulus, and conditioned response. Also explain, in this example, how extinction would occur.

Answer 1

When you take your dog out for a walk, your dog will hear the sound of the front door opening. He knows that since he heard the sound of the door, it is time for a walk. The door's sound is the conditioned stimulus. The conditioned response is your dog's eagerness for a walk. However, if you open a drawer and it makes the same sound, your dog still gets eager for a walk! The drawer's sound is the unconditioned stimulus and your dog's eagerness is the unconditioned response! This is also called stimulus generalization because your dog heard the drawer's sound and thought it also meant for a walk. Extinction can occur when the dog will not give the conditioned response, which is knowing it is time for a walk. When you open the door front door and don't take your dog out, he will become less interested and won't think it is time for a walk. Thus, the sound of the door won't mean that it is time for a walk anymore.