The issue of prediction of the UCS in a situation alerted us to the general point that the role of a stimulus is not fixed.  It can function as either a CS or UCS, depending on the situation.

There are many easy cases where Pavlov and Kamin would agree on the most likely candidate to be the UCS but they would disagree on the reason for the classification.  There are cases where they would disagree. The purpose of this assignment is to get you to be able to use both types of analyses in prediction of the UCS in a situation.

Do not use lab-based tone/light/shock/food examples.  Reflect upon your (and others) daily life and think more creatively. 

Describe a situation which contains a minimum of 4 stimuli that you noticed in your analysis of the situation.

1.  For Pavlov, what is the most likely UCS in the situation and why?  What is the most likely CS?  Why?  What is the least likely effective CS? Why?

2.  For Kamin, what is the most likely UCS in the situation and why?  What is the most likely CS?  Why?  What is the least likely effective CS? Why?

..... The world is always changing .....

3.  For Pavlov,  what event(s) would cause the UCS to lose its role?  And what would you do to make another stimulus take over that role?  Why?

4.  For Kamin,  what event(s) would cause the UCS to lose its role?  And what would you do to make another stimulus take over that role?  Why?