Classical Conditioning

Higher-Order Conditioning involves the modification of a reaction to a neutral stimulus associated with a Conditioned Stimulus that was formerly neutral. An example of higher-order conditioning is outlined in the diagram above.

 

Higher Order Conditioning

In order to implement Higher Order Conditioning, Phases I - III of Classical Conditioning must have already taken place. Immediately after Phase III has been implemented (remember Phase III is called the After Learning Phase), next present the original CS with another selected neutral stimulus which later becomes CS₂. The original CS becomes the CS₁ and the newly selected CS becomes the CS₂. When these two stimuli are presented together, the CS₂ will be associated with the CS₁ and will be capable of eliciting a weak CR.

Prior to Higher Order Conditioning, the dog did not salivate when the ball was shown. When Pavlov paired the sound of bell with the ball, the dog started salivating. After Higher Order Conditioning occurred, the ball alone produced salivation.

When a random object is introduced when the bell is rung, the dog continued to salivate.

When the bell was taken away, and the new random object was used instead, the dog continued to salivate. This indicates that the stimulus can be changed and that salivation will still occur.

 

Division of Social Sciences: Psychology

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