Classical conditioning was first extensively studied by Ivan Pavlov with his experiments involving dogs. The basic idea is that a neutral stimulus becomes associated with a meaningful stimulus, and eventually, the neutral stimulus can produce a response on its own.
Classical conditioning is essential to understanding behaviour because it demonstrates how associations between stimuli can influence responses. It provides insights into how certain behaviours are learned and can be modified. The principles of classical conditioning are widely applicable and have been used in various fields, including psychology, education, and therapy, to understand and modify human and animal behaviour. This type of learning plays a crucial role in everyday life and helps explain how individuals develop emotional and behavioural responses to various stimuli in their environment.
Here’s a brief summary of classical conditioning:
- Unconditioned Stimulus (UCS): This is a stimulus that naturally triggers a response without prior conditioning. For example, in Pavlov’s experiments, food was an unconditioned stimulus because it elicited a natural salivary response in dogs.
- Unconditioned Response (UCR): This is the unlearned response that occurs naturally in reaction to the unconditioned stimulus. In Pavlov’s experiments, the salivation caused by the food was the unconditioned response.
- Conditioned Stimulus (CS): This is a previously neutral stimulus that, after becoming associated with the unconditioned stimulus, eventually comes to trigger a conditioned response. In Pavlov’s experiments, a bell was a neutral stimulus that became a conditioned stimulus when it became associated with the presentation of food.
- Conditioned Response (CR): This is the learned response to the conditioned stimulus. In Pavlov’s experiments, the salivation in response to the bell alone (without food) became the conditioned response.
So;
- Before Conditioning: Food = Salivation
- Before Conditioning: Bell = No salivation
- During Conditioning: Bell + Food = Salivation
- After Conditioning: Bell = Salivation
Classical conditioning can lead to the development of a food aversion. If someone becomes sick after eating a particular food, they may develop a conditioned response where just the sight or smell of that food can trigger feelings of nausea. This adaptive response helps individuals avoid potentially harmful substances, showcasing how classical conditioning influences our behaviour to promote survival and well-being.
Food Aversion
- Unconditioned Stimulus (UCS): Consuming a particular type of food that leads to nausea or sickness.
- Unconditioned Response (UCR): The natural response is the feeling of nausea or sickness after eating the specific food.
- Neutral Stimulus (NS): Initially, the sight, smell, or taste of the specific food is a neutral stimulus because it doesn’t inherently cause nausea.
- Conditioned Stimulus (CS): Over time, through repeated pairing with the unconditioned stimulus (eating the specific food), the sight, smell, or taste of the food becomes a conditioned stimulus.
- Conditioned Response (CR): The learned response is the feeling of nausea or sickness triggered by the sight, smell, or taste of the specific food, even if it doesn’t cause sickness on its own.
Another everyday example of classical conditioning is the association between the sound of an alarm clock and the feeling of stress or urgency in the morning.
- Unconditioned Stimulus (UCS): The natural stimulus that triggers a response without prior conditioning is the need to wake up and start the day.
- Unconditioned Response (UCR): The unlearned response is the initial stress or urgency felt when waking up to start the day.
- Neutral Stimulus (NS): Initially, the sound of the alarm clock is a neutral stimulus because it doesn’t inherently cause a stress response.
- Conditioned Stimulus (CS): Over time, through repeated pairing with the unconditioned stimulus (waking up), the sound of the alarm clock becomes a conditioned stimulus.
- Conditioned Response (CR): The learned response is the stress or urgency felt upon hearing the alarm clock, even if waking up is not immediately required.
In this scenario, the alarm clock (CS) becomes associated with the stress of waking up (UCR). Eventually, the sound of the alarm alone can evoke a stress response (CR) even when waking up is not necessary. This illustrates how classical conditioning can influence our emotional and behavioural responses to everyday stimuli.
If you want to go through this again (it took me a few times during my studies!), take a look at this really good video: