Classical Conditioning Theory

Definition

Classical conditioning theory is a learning process that occurs through associations between an environmental stimulus and a naturally occurring stimulus. It involves the process of pairing a neutral stimulus with an unconditioned stimulus to elicit a conditioned response.

Theoretical Perspectives

Classical conditioning theory is a learning process discovered by Ivan Pavlov. It demonstrates how stimuli can be used to elicit conditioned responses through association, foundational in behavioral psychology.

Study And Research Findings

Ivan Pavlov's 1900s experiments with dogs salivating at the sound of a bell, after associating it with food, are seminal. John Watson's "Little Albert" experiment (1920) extended this theory to human emotional responses.

Related terms

Unconditioned Stimulus:

The unconditioned stimulus is something that naturally and automatically triggers a response without any prior learning.

Conditioned Stimulus:

The conditioned stimulus is initially neutral but becomes associated with the unconditioned stimulus through repeated pairings, ultimately triggering a similar response.

Conditioned Response:

The conditioned response is the learned response that occurs after the conditioned stimulus is presented. It is usually similar to or identical to the unconditioned response.