Classical conditioning principles and behavioral applications

¶ … classical conditioning, including a classical conditioning scenario. Classical conditioning is a learning theory of behavioral psychology that recognizes a specific response to a specific occurrence. Dr. IRA Pavlov discovered it in his famous experiments with a dog, which heard the sound of a bell and learned to associate it with a treat. Eventually, he simply associated the bell with the treat and began to salivate when he heard the bell. Pavlov's discovery was a complete accident, he was actually studying the digestive processes of the dog, and uncovered the learning process while studying the digestion (Millis, 2003). Today, classical conditioning is also referred to as "reflexive conditioning." It is called classic because it was the first conditioning learning theory discovered and studied.

This is not a theory about learning new behaviors. It is a theory of association with existing behaviors. There are some specific terms used to describe the process in classical conditioning. CS is a Conditioned Stimulus, CR is a Conditioned Response, U.S. is Unconditioned Stimulus, UR is Unconditioned Response, and NS is Neutral Stimulus. These terms are used in the chart below. Two professors note, "Classical conditioning starts with a reflex: an innate, involuntary behavior elicited or caused by an antecedent environmental event. For example, if air is blown into your eye, you blink. You have no voluntary or conscious control over whether the blink occurs or not" (Hewitt & Hummel, 1997). Therefore, you can use a reflex, as Pavlov did with his dog, and cause a desired behavior by repeating the reflex. This could be used in just about any scenario, from training an animal to eliciting a response from a human being. To achieve this goal, there must be an Unconditioned Stimulus or UCS, which results in an Unconditioned Response or UCR. For example, a dog sees a dog bone (UCS), and his unconditioned response is to salivate. The dog hears a bell, and has no response. Then, the bell and the UCS are used in unison, and the dog has a UCR. Finally, the bell alone results in the UCR, and the dog bone is no longer necessary.

Psychologist John B. Watson was interested in the process in humans, and created an experiment to see if he could classically condition a baby. He used an 11-month-old baby named Albert, who was not afraid of rats. During his study, he would introduce a rat to the baby, accompanied by a loud bang, which would frighten the baby. After a while, the baby came to fear the rats, and associated them with the noise (Millis, 2003). While classic conditioning can be used to eliminate some phobias, as shown here, it can be used to create phobias, too.

The professors continue, "Things that make us happy, sad, angry, etc. become associated with neutral stimuli that gain our attention. For example, if a particular academic subject or remembering a particular teacher produces emotional feelings in you, those emotions are probably a result of classical conditioning" (Hewitt & Hummel, 1997). So, you can use those emotional feelings as a part of any classical conditioning training. Another professor notes, "Behaviors that are classically conditioned are those which involve the learning of involuntary responses -- responses over which the learner has no control and to which he or she responds reflexively or 'automatically'" (Abbott, 2003). The dog had no control over its salivation at the UCS, so this example is an example of classic conditioning.

As shown, this can be used in just about any scenario. For example, it can be used in feeding your cats. First, you open a can of cat food. The cats meow and realize they are going to enjoy dinner. When you open the cat food, you stand in a specific area of the kitchen, at a specific time (while you are making dinner). After a time, the cats respond to you standing in this specific location around dinnertime, whether you are opening a can of cat food or not. They have learned the response from the UCS of the cat food and the CS of the specific location in the kitchen, and expect the results, kitty dinner. The cats have no control over their response to the cat food, so this too, is an example of classic conditioning.

This response happens over time, it does not happen immediately. The same would be true of training someone to pick up their clothes and put them in the clothes hamper, or a teacher helping students overcome a phobia. In that scenario, the teacher uses some type of reward for the student, such as a treat or a small prize. The student receives the treat after they complete a set of math problems (overcoming math phobia). After a while, the phobia disappears as they look forward to receiving the treat, rather than dreading doing the math problems. They have mastered their phobia, and classic conditioning is often used in learning environments to master phobias and fears.

Classical conditioning is often used in animal behavior training, too. Professor Abbott continues, "It's a fundamental part of all forms of animal training (including some forms of human training). Its primary use in human behavior is in dealing with habit formation (Abbott, 2003). It is also often used in mental health treatment, often helping the mentally ill cope with some of their fears and behaviors, but as show, it can help people learn to fear things they have not feared before, as well.