you’re able to learn in both conscious and unconscious ways.
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What Is Classical Conditioning and Pavlovs Theory?
Pavlov discovered classical conditioning by accident while he was researching dog digestion.
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Classical conditioning is also called Pavlovian conditioning.
At the beginning of the experiment, the dogs would salivate only when presented with food.
Later, neutral noises, such as the food cart entering the testing area, made them salivate.
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He set up an experiment where a bell would ring right before giving food to the dogs.
Before Conditioning
A naturally occurring unconditioned stimulus must be present before the conditioning occurs.
In the case of Pavlovs research, the unconditioned stimulus was just presenting the dogs with food.
The food being presented to the dogs led to an unconditioned responsethe dogs began to salivate.
The response was automatic, not learned.
A neutral stimulus is also present but has not yet evoked any response.
The neutral stimulus needs to be paired with the unconditioned stimulus for it to lead to a response.
How Is Classical Conditioning Different From Operant Learning?
Classical andoperant conditioningare not the same.
Classical conditioning uses stimuli to help evoke an involuntary response.
Operant conditioning uses behavior and consequences as a way of conditioning.
Operant conditioning involves rewards for good behaviors and punishment for bad behaviors.
In Pavlovs experiment, he used a bell as a neutral stimulus.
Presenting the food to the dogs was the unconditioned stimulus.
The neutral stimulusthe bellevolved into a conditioned stimulus.
The response is now triggered by using the conditioned stimulus alone.
For example, classical conditioning may help with:
Some therapies, likeexposureandaversiontherapy, work by counter-conditioning responses.
They repeat exposures to the subject of their phobia until they are no longer afraid of it.
In aversion therapy, a person learns to associate something negative with a behavior they want to stop.
Education
In school systems, classical conditioning can help students develop positive associations with their learning experiences.
Taste Aversions
The radiation acted like an unconditioned stimulus because it triggered feelings of automaticnauseain the rats.
Advertising
Advertisers often use classical conditioning to encourage consumers to buy their products.
For example, a commercial may show a product that people seem to enjoy using.
Eventually, consumers come to associate happiness and fun with the product.
Advertising can also use music as a form of classical conditioning.
Then, people will associate that company or product with positive emotions.
Placebo Effect
Classical conditioning has also been researched as a part of theplacebo effect.
One study looked at classical conditioning, the placebo effect, and pain modulation.
Pet Training
Classical conditioning is a highly popular tool used to train pets to be more obedient.
For example, it can help your dog unconsciously engage in more desirable behaviors.
Classical conditioning in pets can also happen by accident.
Summary
Pavlovs classical conditioning is very much a part of our lives today.
The techniques are used in mental health, education, advertising, and pet training.
Research has also looked at classical conditioning in taste aversions and the placebo effect.
Eelen P.Classical conditioning: classical yet modern.Psychol Belg.
2018;58(1):196-211. doi:10.5334/pb.451
American Psychological Association.APA dictionary of psychology: classical conditioning.
doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0165269
American Psychological Association.APA dictionary of psychology: operant conditioning.
