Ivan Pavlov was a Russian physiologist best known in psychology for his discovery of classical conditioning.
Pavlov was also able to demonstrate classical conditioning in his subjects by associating food with sound of a tone.
Learn more about Ivan Pavlov and his contributions to the field of psychology.
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Overview
Pavlov discovered classical conditioning in the 1890s and published his results in 1897.
The discovery had a reverberating influence on psychology.
Take a closer look at Ivan Pavlov’s life and career in this brief biography.
He soon abandoned his religious studies and devoted himself to the study of science.
In 1870, he began studying the natural sciences at St. Petersburg University.
Career
Pavlov’s primary interests were the study of physiology and natural sciences.
“Science demands from a man all his life.
If you had two lives that would not be enough for you.
Be passionate in your work and in your searching,“Pavlov once suggested.
So, how did his work in physiology lead to his discovery of classical conditioning?
Pavlov termed this response aconditional reflex.
Pavlov also discovered that these reflexes originate in the cerebral cortex of the brain.
He died on February 27, 1936.
Not only was he not a psychologist; he reportedly was skeptical of the emergingfield of psychologyaltogether.
However, his work had a major influence on the field, particularly on the development ofbehaviorism.
Other researchers utilized Pavlov’s work in the study of conditioning as a form of learning.
His research also demonstrated techniques of studying reactions to the environment in an objective scientific method.
His discovery of classical conditioning helped establish the school of thought known as behaviorism.
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