Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 9, 2026

Multimodal Protocol for Assessing Metacognition and Self-Regulation in Adults with Learning Difficulties
Published on: September 27, 2020
Affective learning in adults with intellectual disability: an experiment using evaluative conditioning
I Blanchette1, V Treillet1, S R Davies2
1Département de Psychologie, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Canada.
Background:
Evaluative conditioning is a form of affective learning in which initially neutral stimuli acquire an affective value through association with negative or positive stimuli. Recent research shows an important role for cognitive resources in this type of learning. This form of affective learning has rarely been studied in intellectual disability (ID).
Method:
We examined evaluative conditioning in 16 adults with mild to moderate ID compared to age- and gender-matched control participants. Neutral shapes and symbols were repeatedly paired with positive, neutral or negative unconditioned stimuli (faces or International Affective Picture System images). There was also an extinction phase.
Results:
There was significant acquisition of conditioning in both groups. Stimuli paired with positive images were evaluated more positively, and stimuli paired with negative images were evaluated more negatively. Post-extinction ratings however show that these novel affective associations were not maintained by individuals with ID as much as by individuals in the control group.
Conclusions:
We conclude that ID modulates some aspects of affective learning but not necessarily initial preference acquisition.
Related Concept Videos
Associative Learning
Classical conditioning, also known...
Classical Conditioning
Ivan Pavlov observed that dogs salivated...
Cognitive Learning
E. C. Tolman's theory of purposive behavior emphasizes that much behavior is goal-directed. He argued that to understand behavior, we must look at the entire sequence of actions leading to a goal. For instance, high school students study hard, not just due to past reinforcement but also to achieve the goal of getting into a good college.
Tolman introduced the idea that behavior is influenced by...
Operant Conditioning Intervention
In operant conditioning, behaviors that are...
Learning Disabilities
Dyslexia
Dyslexia is a...
The Influence of Affect on Cognition

