Rescorla-Wagner (1972) Theory of Classical Conditioning
Subject:
Psychology [1]
Rescorla-Wagner (1972) Theory of Classical Conditioning Rescorla-Wagner Theory (1972) Organisms only learn when events violate their expectations (like Kamin?s surprise hypothesis) Expectations are built up when ?significant? events follow a stimulus complex These expectations are only modified when consequent events disagree with the composite expectation Rescorla-Wagner Theory These concepts were incorporated into a mathematical formula: Change in the associative strength of a stimulus depends on the existing associative strength of that stimulus and all others present If existing associative strength is low, then potential change is high; If existing associative strength is high, then very little change occurs