Verbal classical conditioning of evaluative responses

Abstract

Verbal classical conditioning research is reviewed as it has developed since the original experiments by Staats and Staats (1957). The present contribution is offered in view of the recent discussion on the significance of evaluative response acquisition as compared to contingency learning in Pavlovian conditioning of human subjects. A brief review of the state of the art is followed by a critical discussion of the role of conditioning and cognitive, especially verbal, processes in this research area. It is concluded that acquisition of evaluative responses may occur in verbal classical conditioning, albeit perhaps under certain conditions. However, cognitive verbal learning, notably the learning of propositions, seems to influence evaluative meaning change.