Classical Conditioning Worksheet

Classical conditioning is a form of associative learning, learning produced by pairing of stimuli and responses in time and place. It contributes to likes and dislikes, emotional reactions, and reflex-like responses to things. Below, explain the situation being described in terms of classical conditioning. For each description, identify or suggest the Unconditioned Stimulus, Unconditioned response, Conditioned stimulus, and Conditioned response.

The first question has been completed for you.

1.  While George was having a cavity filled by his dentist, the drill hit a nerve that had not been dulled by anesthetic a couple of times.  Each time he cringed in pain.  George now gets anxious each time he sees the dentist.

What is the:

        Unconditioned stimulus:        Drill hitting the nerve

        Unconditioned response:        Pain

        Conditioned stimulus:                    Dentist

Conditioned response:        Anxiety

2.  Every time a psychology instructor enters the classroom, she goes straight to the board to write an outline.  Unfortunately, she has long fingernails and each time she writes the outline, her nails screech on the board, making students cringe.  After a few weeks of this, students cringe at the teacher's sight entering the classroom.

What is the:

        Unconditioned stimulus:        ____________________

        Unconditioned response:        ____________________

        Conditioned stimulus:                    ____________________

Conditioned response:        ____________________

3.  Fanny eats fried chicken that has E. coli in it and ends up vomiting for hours that night.  Luckily she recovers within a day, but now just the thought (or the sight or the smell) of fried chicken makes her nauseous.

  What is the:

        Unconditioned stimulus:        ____________________

        Unconditioned response:        ____________________

        Conditioned stimulus:                    ____________________

Conditioned response:        ____________________

References

1. Pavlov, I. P. (1927). Conditioned Reflexes. Oxford University Press.
2. Rescorla, R. A., & Wagner, A. R. (1972). A theory of Pavlovian conditioning: Variations in the effectiveness of reinforcement and nonreinforcement. Classical Conditioning II: Current Research and Theory, 2, 64-99.

You can download more Mental Health worksheets here.

Please note: There may be a more up-to-date and editable version of this worksheet available here which may be more suitable to present to clients if you are a therapist or to use in a classroom as a teacher or guidance counselor.