Classical conditioning theory

Classical Conditioning theory by Ivan Pavlov

1. Classical Conditioning theory of Learning - Ivan Pavlov Dr. Manju N D Assistant Professor SVK National College of Education Kuvempu University, Shimoga

2. Ivan Petrovich Pavlov (1849-1936) was a Russian  physiologist  known primarily for his work in  classical conditioning . Pavlov won the  Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine  in 1904, becoming the first Russian Nobel laureate.  He observed and recorded information about dogs and their digestive process. As part of his work, he began to study what triggers dogs to salivate.

3. WHAT IS CLASSICAL CONDITIONING ? Classical conditioning is a learning process that occurs through associations between an environmental stimulus and a naturally occurring stimulus. It had a major influence on behaviorism which is based on the assumption that learning occurs through interactions with the environment.

4. Classical Conditioning Experiment As stated above, Pavlov restricted his experimental studies to the process of secretion of saliva in dogs. Food in the mouth of the organism produces the saliva. When we put food in the mouth of the dog, the dog salivates. This is a natural response. Here the food is termed as ‘unconditioned stimuli and the salivation by the dog as ‘unconditioned response’. The stimulus of food is called unconditioned because it means that the response depends upon no special condition.

5. Unconditioned responses are unlearned and imply no pre condition. During his experimentation on dogs, Pavlov introduced the sound of a bell as a natural stimulus or conditioned stimulus. The bell, for example, was sounded at the time when food was presented to the dog or just before. Thus, the sound of the bell was paired with presentation of the food a few times. The dog was found to salivate in response to the sound of the bell. The response which was learned was called by Pavlov as ‘conditioned reflex’ or ‘conditioned response’.

6. Here is an outline of Pavlo’s experiment

7. PAVLOV’S EXPERIMENT

8. COMPONENTS OF CLASSICAL CONDITIONING The Unconditioned Stimulus (UCS) : A stimulus that naturally, and automatically triggers a response.  The Unconditioned Response(UCR): The unlearned response that occurs naturally in response to the unconditioned stimulus.   The Conditioned Stimulus(CS): A previously neutral stimulus that when paired with an unconditioned stimulus triggers a conditioned response .   The Conditioned Response(CR): Learned response to the previously neutral stimulus.

9. Unconditioned Stimulus Unconditioned Response Neutral Stimulus Conditioned Stimulus Conditioned Response

10. Principles of Classical Conditioning The theory generally refers to acquiring of new behavior via association with various stimuli. By associating the subject with stimulus subject, outputs new responses and learns a behavior. Based on how the learning method works, there are five general principles in Classical Conditioning. Each of the principles describes how the classical conditioning learning occurs. It covers from the very initial to the last stage of the learning process.

11. Acquisition Acquisition is the first step to the method. It is the process by which an organism learns the association involved in classical conditioning. For this process to begin, two different stimuli, CS (Conditioned Stimuli) and UCS (Unconditioned Stimuli) must be paired repeatedly before the CS unfailingly elicits a CR (Conditioned Response). CS and UCS when paired together extract a certain response. After repeatedly pairing two separate stimuli together, the conditioned response gets stronger and stronger. This process is called  Acquisition . Acquisition of relationship between two stimuli is absolutely vital for classical conditioning.

12. Stimulus Generalization After an organism has been conditioned to respond in a certain way for a particular stimulus after repeated trials, it shouldn’t be surprising or uncommon to expect the organism to respond in the similar way to other similar stimuli or situations. In classical conditioning, generalization is defined as the process in which a stimulus similar to the original CS produces similar behavior identical to the CR.

13. Stimulus Discrimination The process in which an organism learns to difference between different stimuli in order to restrict their response to one stimulus in particular is known as Stimulus Discrimination. For instance, the dog in the Pavlov’s experiment does not salivate when exposed to ‘Light’ instead of the sound of the bell. 

14. Extinction The process of undoing the classical conditioning such that the subject does not produce CR in the presence of CS is termed as Extinction. Extinction is said to have occurred when there is complete absence of conditioned response, when the subject is exposed to conditioned stimulus (absence of UCS). Extinction can be produced by ending the association between conditioned and unconditioned stimuli.

15. For instance , if Pavlov had started to stop presenting the dog with food following the bell-sound on numerous occasions, it would gradually stop salivating in response to the sound. This would not happen out of a sudden; initially, the dog would continue to salivate but with due time, it would come to an understanding that no food is going to be presented. Hence, there would be no CR. This means the lack of reinforcement will break the link between CS-UCS and CR.

16. Spontaneous Recovery Sometimes, the CR suddenly reappears even after then link between CS and UCS has been broken down, or to put in another words, the organism has stopped eliciting CR in response to CS. In Pavlov’s experiment, when the dog had completely stopped eliciting CR (Saliva) in response to CS (bell sound), the dog still responded with saliva at the sound of the bell. This sudden reappearance of saliva (CR) was referred as ‘spontaneous recovery’ by Pavlov.

17. This principle can be used to explain why “cured” alcohol and drug addicts again “relapse to addiction”. When the cured addicts confront with the substance, the irresistible urge to use the substance again may resurface because of the strong connection to the drug previously. This can be termed as  Spontaneous Recovery .

18. Educational Implications of Classical Conditioning theory: Pavlov brought a revolution in the field of psychology. He explained learning in terms of physiological changes by adopting an objective method of study. Conditioning was accepted as theoretical framework and practical technique of solving a variety of applied problems.

19. According to Pavlov, all learning is conditioning or de conditioning. The motor driver stops his vehicle at red light and starts at green light. This is not his natural response. He had to become conditioned so that he might put the brakes upon his vehicle as soon as he saw the red signal, without any prior thought. He knows that the failure to do this is sure to be followed by punishment. The child also learns things in this way. As soon as the teacher steps into the classroom, the child has to stand up. Such conditioning is a must in learning.

20. Classical conditioning does not have direct application to classroom learning. But the principles of classical conditioning can be such as cleanliness, respect for elders, punctuality etc. Similarly, it can be used for de-conditioning anxiety and fear in the maladjusted children. Classical conditioning can be used to develop a favourable or unfavourable attitude on the part of the learner towards learning, the teacher and the school.

21. The theory believed that one must be able to practice and master a task effectively before embarking on another one. This means that a student needs to be able to respond to a particular stimulus (information) before he/she can be associated with a new one. Teachers should know how to motivate their students to learn. They should be versatile with various strategies that can enhance effective participation of the students in the teaching- learning activities.

22. Most of the emotional responses can be learned through classical conditioning. A negative or positive response comes through the stimulus being paired with. For example, providing the necessary school material for primary school pupils will develop good feelings about school and learning in them, while, punishment will discourage them from attending the school.

23. Exercise Close your eyes and start thinking about your favorite food… !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

24. IS YOUR MOUTH WATERING?? If yes, it’s because you are conditioned.!!!!