Example of Higher-Order Conditioning: A Cat and a Squeaky Cabinet
Higher-order conditioning can be demonstrated with a cat named Tiger, who is already conditioned to the sound of an electric can opener. If the cabinet containing her food develops a squeak, and this squeak is consistently heard before the can opener's sound, the cat will learn to associate the squeak with being fed. The squeak, a new neutral stimulus, becomes a second-order conditioned stimulus by being paired with the original conditioned stimulus (the can opener). As a result, Tiger will get excited just from hearing the cabinet squeak. This process is generally limited; attempting to add a third stimulus, like a bell rung before the squeak, would likely not result in the cat becoming conditioned to the bell.
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Example of Higher-Order Conditioning: A Cat and a Squeaky Cabinet
Stages of Higher-Order Conditioning Illustrated
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