Psych

What is Classical Conditioning?

What is Classical Conditioning? Program Transcript

NARRATOR: What is Classical Conditioning? Classical conditioning is a type of learning in which a neutral stimulus brings about a response after it has been paired with a stimulus that naturally brings about a response.

Okay? But, what does this mean?

You’ve probably heard the story of a Russian scientist by the name of Ivan Pavlov. Pavlov was studying how digestion works in mammals, specifically dogs (dog bark sound). He was looking at what triggers dogs to salivate to help break down the food that they were given (human yum sound).

However, what Pavlov observed was that dogs began salivating before the food was introduced. Those feeding the dogs wore lab coats. Just seeing the lab coats prompted the dogs to begin drooling (dog bark sound), even when no food was in sight.

To experiment with this further, Pavlov introduced a bell (bell ringing sound). Every time the dogs were given food, a bell would ring (bell ringing sound) (dog bark sound). Soon, just ringing the bell made the dogs salivate bell ringing sound) (dog bark sound).

Pavlov identified his observations this way. An unconditioned stimulus would be the food (human yum sound), because even in nature, food would make dogs salivate.

The unconditioned response would be the dogs salivating at the smell or sight of food (dog bark sound). This doesn’t require any kind of experience or training.

A neutral stimulus would be ringing the bell (bell ringing sound). Bells don’t make dogs salivate in nature.

Classical conditioning comes about when you pair the neutral stimulus, like the bell (bell ringing sound), with an unconditioned stimulus, like the food (human yum sound).

After repeating this conditioning, the neutral stimulus, the bell, evolves into a conditioned stimulus so that when it is heard (bell ringing sound) it stimulates a conditioned response, or the dog salivating (dog bark sound).

The word “conditioned” means “learned”—it refers to relationships that would not occur naturally.

NARRATOR: Make sense? Let’s look at another scenario so that you can try to identify the elements.

©2015 Laureate Education, Inc. 1

What is Classical Conditioning?

Monica is out at a local restaurant and sees that someone near her table has ordered some sushi (human yum sound).

Monica orders some sushi for herself.

Unfortunately, later she becomes very sick (human yum sound).

The next time she returns to the same restaurant, Monica notices someone near her table has ordered sushi.

All of sudden, Monica begins to experience feelings of being sick again (human yum sound).

Based on what you know about Monica’s reaction, try matching the various terms to the descriptions from this story.

(Terms)

Neutral stimulus

Unconditioned stimulus

Conditioned stimulus

Unconditioned response

Conditioned response

(Story Descriptions)

Monica orders sushi, which has a distinctive look, smell, and taste.

Monica has bacteria in her digestive system.

Monica feels sick later in the night.

The sight of sushi at Monica’s second visit to the restaurant.

Monica returns to the restaurant and feels sick at the sight of sushi.

©2015 Laureate Education, Inc. 2