Question

Ray was assigned to barracks in a very old building with old plumbing. While showering for the first time, he heard the toilet flush and then, a few second later, was scalded when the water suddenly became much hotter. He screamed in pain. The next time he took a shower, when he heard the toilet flush, he immediately jumped out of the stream of water and screamed before the water became hotter. Name and describe the process of learning that took place. Be sure to use the correct terminology associated with all of the components involved in the process. For example, originally the sound of the toilet flushing was a (an)____________ and it later became a (an) __________ because of the process of learning.

Answer 1

The process of learning that has taken place here is classical conditioning. The first part of the classical conditioning process requires a naturally occurring stimulus or the unconditioned stimulus (UCS) that will automatically elicit an unlearned response or the unconditioned response (UCR). In this case, the hot water from the shower is an UCS whereas jumping to avoid it is an UR. In the next phase, the previously neutral stimulus is paired with the UCS. As a result of this pairing, an association between the previously neutral stimulus and the UCS is formed. At this point, the once neutral stimulus becomes known as the conditioned stimulus (CS), which then acquired the ability to evoke the UCR.