Ivan Pavlov
Definition
Ivan Pavlov was a Russian physiologist known for his work in classical conditioning, where he trained dogs to salivate at the sound of a bell by associating it with food.
Analogy
Think of Pavlov as an orchestra conductor. Just like how a conductor trains musicians to play their instruments at specific cues, Pavlov trained dogs to respond (salivate) to a specific cue (bell).
Related terms
Classical Conditioning: A learning process that occurs when two stimuli are repeatedly paired; a response that is at first elicited by the second stimulus is eventually elicited by the first alone. It's like feeling hungry every time you see your favorite restaurant's logo because you associate it with delicious food.
Stimulus: Any event or situation that evokes a response. Like smelling fresh coffee and feeling more awake.
Conditioned Response: The learned reaction to a conditioned stimulus. Like flinching when someone pretends they're going to throw something at you because you've been hit before.
"Ivan Pavlov" appears in:
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Practice Questions (2)
- In what way did Ivan Pavlov contribute to behavioralism within the field of psychology?
- What is a major critique against Ivan Pavlov's classical conditioning theory concerning its relevance to neuroscience?
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