I think there would be less angst in using classical conditioning terminology if people read what Pavlov wrote in Conditioned Reflexes.
In Lecture I, Pavlov lays out his definition of the reflex. A reflex is a systematic, predictable relationship between a stimulus and a responses.
"Thus a stimulus appears to be connected of necessity with a definite response, as cause with effect." (p. 7)
Where you see a systematic relationship, then you can label it as a reflex. Later in the same lecture he describes a dog that would reliably struggle to escape the experimental stand. He labels this behavior a "freedom reflex." (p. 11)
In Lecture II, Pavlov makes clear that labels like CS and US (UCS) are functional labels that describe the role played by that stimulus in the situation. He describes the very important experiments by Erofeeva. She showed that one could take a stimulus like shock which normally produces withdrawal and turn it into a CS because it reliably is followed by food. In this case, presentation of shock now produces salivation. (p. 30)
So the proposal that a strong (reliable) reaction to seeing someone murdered could function as an unconditioned reflex is very consistent with Pavlov's analysis.
Ken -- ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Kenneth M. Steele, Ph. D. [email protected] Professor Department of Psychology http://www.psych.appstate.edu Appalachian State University Boone, NC 28608 USA ------------------------------------------------------------------------ --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: [email protected]. To unsubscribe click here: http://fsulist.frostburg.edu/u?id=13090.68da6e6e5325aa33287ff385b70df5d5&n=T&l=tips&o=34083 or send a blank email to leave-34083-13090.68da6e6e5325aa33287ff385b70df...@fsulist.frostburg.edu
