Classical Conditioning

Synonyms

Pavlovian conditioning

Definition

Classical conditioning is learning by association and focuses on what happens before an individual responds. It is often used in behavioral training. Perhaps, the most well-known example of classical conditioning is that of Pavlov’s dogs. Pavlov measured salivation responses in dogs. Before conditioning, he rang a bell and noted that there was no increase in saliva from the dogs. Then, during conditioning, he rang a bell (unconditioned stimulus) and immediately put meat powder (conditioned stimulus) on the dogs’ tongues which caused them to salivate (unconditioned response); he continued this several times. Finally, after conditioning, he rang the bell again but without food and the dogs salivated (conditioned response). Pavlov used classical conditioning so the dogs associated an unrelated stimulus (the bell) with food. Thus, they eventually produced the same saliva response they would for food with the bell. For further details, see Coon and...