One of the best-known examples of classical conditioning is Pavlov’s classic experiments with dogs.
Knowing these basics will help you understand classical conditioning.
Unconditioned Stimulus
Anunconditioned stimulusis a stimulus or trigger that leads to an automatic response.
Verywell / Joshua Seong
That would make it a neutral stimulus.
If you smell your favorite food and your mouth starts watering, the watering is an unconditioned response.
Salivating in response to the smell of food is a good example of a naturally occurring stimulus.
At this point, there is also a neutral stimulus that produces no effectyet.
A neutral stimulus is then introduced.
As a result of this pairing, an association between the previously neutral stimulus and the UCS is formed.
At this point, the once neutral stimulus becomes known as the conditioned stimulus (CS).
The subject has now been conditioned to respond to this stimulus.
In this case, the sound of the whistle is the conditioned stimulus.
Theduring conditioningphase involves repeatedly pairing a neutral stimulus with an unconditioned stimulus.
Eventually, the neutral stimulus becomes the conditioned stimulus.
The resulting response is known as the conditioned response (CR).
The conditioned response is the learned response to the previously neutral stimulus.
In our example, the conditioned response would be feeling hungry when you heard the sound of the whistle.
In theafter conditioningphase, the conditioned stimulus alone triggers the conditioned response.
Some of these elements involve the initial establishment of the response while others describe the disappearance of a response.
Here is a closer look at five key principles of classical conditioning.
It is at this point that we can say that the response has been acquired.
Extinction
Extinction is when the occurrences of a conditioned response decrease or disappear.
In classical conditioning, this happens when a conditioned stimulus is no longer paired with an unconditioned stimulus.
Spontaneous Recovery
Sometimes a learned response can suddenly reemerge, even after a period of extinction.
This is called spontaneous recovery.
What Are Examples of Classical Conditioning?
Prior to the conditioning, the white rat was a neutral stimulus.
This experiment illustrates howphobiascan form through classical conditioning.
Taste Aversions
Another example of classical conditioning is the development of conditionedtaste aversions.
In this example, the radiation represents the unconditioned stimulus and nausea represents the unconditioned response.
Why do such associations develop so quickly?
Forming such associations can have survival benefits.
This is an example ofbiological preparedness.
Some associations form more readily because they aid in survival.
The goal was to help sheep ranchers reduce the number of sheep lost to coyote killings.
Organizational Behavior
Classical conditioning can also have applications in business and marketing.
What Is the Difference Between Classical Conditioning and Operant Conditioning?
Operant conditioningis a learning method in which a specific behavior is associated with either a positive or negative consequence.
In reality, people do not respond exactly likePavlov’s dogs.
There are, however, numerous real-world applications for classical conditioning.
For example, many dog trainers use classical conditioning techniques to help people train their pets.
These techniques are also useful for helping people cope with phobias oranxiety problems.
Therapists might, for example, repeatedly pair something that provokes anxiety with relaxation techniques to create an association.
Instead of feeling anxious and tense in these situations, the child will learn to stay relaxed and calm.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ivan Pavlov discovered classical conditioning.
Pavlov was passionate about physiology, even earning gold medals for his work in this field.
Implicit memory is a memory that it’s possible for you to recall effortlessly or without thought.
Classical conditioning uses this automatic memory to create associations with a neutral stimulus.
The association is learned without conscious awareness.
Behavioral therapies use the principles of classical conditioning to help people change negative behaviors.
Wolpe J, Plaud JJ.Pavlov’s contributions to behavior therapy.
The obvious and not so obvious.Am Psychol.1997;52(9):966-72.
Windholz G.Pavlov on the conditioned reflex method and its limitations.Am J Psychol.1995;108(4):575-88.
The Nobel Prize.Ivan Pavlov biographical.
Breedlove SM.Principles of Psychology.
Nevid JS.Psychology: Concepts and Applications.
