Classical Conditioning Experiment

Definition

A type of learning in which an organism comes to associate stimuli and anticipate events. It involves the pairing of a neutral stimulus with an unconditioned stimulus to elicit a conditioned response.

Theoretical Perspectives

Classical conditioning is rooted in behaviorism, which posits that behaviors are learned through interactions with the environment. It emphasizes observable behavior changes as responses to stimuli.

Study And Research Findings

Ivan Pavlov's seminal work with dogs demonstrated classical conditioning. He showed how a neutral stimulus, when paired with an unconditioned stimulus, could elicit a conditioned response after repeated associations.

Related terms

Unconditioned Stimulus (UCS): A stimulus that naturally and automatically triggers a response without any prior conditioning. For example, the smell of food is an unconditioned stimulus as it causes us to feel hungry.

Conditioned Stimulus (CS):

A previously neutral stimulus that, after being paired with an unconditioned stimulus, triggers a conditioned response. For instance, the sound of a bell might be paired with the smell of food to create hunger when only hearing the bell.

Conditioned Response (CR):

The learned response to a previously neutral but now conditioned stimulus. In our analogy, salivating at the sight or sound of the bell would be the conditioned response.