Biological Preparedness and Classical Conditioning

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Biological preparedness is the idea that people and animals are inherently inclined to form associations between certain stimuli and responses. This concept plays an important role in learning, particularly in understanding theclassical conditioning process.Some associations form easily because we are predisposed to form such connections, while other associations are much more difficult to form because we are not naturally predisposed to them.It has been suggested that biological preparedness explains why certain types ofphobiastend to form more easily.For example, we tend to develop a fear of things that may pose a threat to our survival, such as heights, spiders, and snakes. Those who learned to fear such dangers more readily were more likely to survive and reproduce.Biological Preparedness Working With Classical ConditioningOne example of biological preparedness in the classical conditioning process is the development oftaste aversions. Have you ever eaten something and immediately become sick afterward? If so, chances are high you avoided eating that particular food in the future, even if the food did not caused your illness.So why do we form associations between the taste of food and illness so easily? We could just as easily form such associations between people who were present when we became ill, the location of the illness, or specific objects that were present.Biological preparedness is the key.People (and animals) are innately predisposed to form associations between tastes and illness.Why? It is most likely due to the evolution of survival mechanisms.Species that readily form such associations between food and illness are more likely to avoid those foods again in the future, thus ensuring their chances for survival and the likelihood that they will reproduce.Many phobia objects involve things that potentially pose a threat to safety and well-being. Snakes, spiders, and dangerous heights are all things that can potentially be deadly. Biological preparedness makes it so that people tend to form fear associations with these threatening options. Because of that fear, people tend to avoid those possible dangers, making it more likely that they will survive. Since these people are more likely to survive, they are also more likely to have children and pass down the genes that contribute to such fear responses.

Biological preparedness is the idea that people and animals are inherently inclined to form associations between certain stimuli and responses. This concept plays an important role in learning, particularly in understanding theclassical conditioning process.

Some associations form easily because we are predisposed to form such connections, while other associations are much more difficult to form because we are not naturally predisposed to them.

It has been suggested that biological preparedness explains why certain types ofphobiastend to form more easily.For example, we tend to develop a fear of things that may pose a threat to our survival, such as heights, spiders, and snakes. Those who learned to fear such dangers more readily were more likely to survive and reproduce.

Biological Preparedness Working With Classical Conditioning

One example of biological preparedness in the classical conditioning process is the development oftaste aversions. Have you ever eaten something and immediately become sick afterward? If so, chances are high you avoided eating that particular food in the future, even if the food did not caused your illness.

So why do we form associations between the taste of food and illness so easily? We could just as easily form such associations between people who were present when we became ill, the location of the illness, or specific objects that were present.

Biological preparedness is the key.

People (and animals) are innately predisposed to form associations between tastes and illness.Why? It is most likely due to the evolution of survival mechanisms.

Species that readily form such associations between food and illness are more likely to avoid those foods again in the future, thus ensuring their chances for survival and the likelihood that they will reproduce.

Many phobia objects involve things that potentially pose a threat to safety and well-being. Snakes, spiders, and dangerous heights are all things that can potentially be deadly. Biological preparedness makes it so that people tend to form fear associations with these threatening options. Because of that fear, people tend to avoid those possible dangers, making it more likely that they will survive. Since these people are more likely to survive, they are also more likely to have children and pass down the genes that contribute to such fear responses.

2 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Seligman ME.Phobias and Preparedness - Republished Article.Behav Ther. 2016;47(5):577‐584. doi:10.1016/j.beth.2016.08.006Chambers KC.Conditioned taste aversions.World J Otorhinolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2018;4(1):92‐100. doi:10.1016/j.wjorl.2018.02.003

2 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Seligman ME.Phobias and Preparedness - Republished Article.Behav Ther. 2016;47(5):577‐584. doi:10.1016/j.beth.2016.08.006Chambers KC.Conditioned taste aversions.World J Otorhinolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2018;4(1):92‐100. doi:10.1016/j.wjorl.2018.02.003

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Seligman ME.Phobias and Preparedness - Republished Article.Behav Ther. 2016;47(5):577‐584. doi:10.1016/j.beth.2016.08.006Chambers KC.Conditioned taste aversions.World J Otorhinolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2018;4(1):92‐100. doi:10.1016/j.wjorl.2018.02.003

Seligman ME.Phobias and Preparedness - Republished Article.Behav Ther. 2016;47(5):577‐584. doi:10.1016/j.beth.2016.08.006

Chambers KC.Conditioned taste aversions.World J Otorhinolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2018;4(1):92‐100. doi:10.1016/j.wjorl.2018.02.003

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