With Reference to Research Evidence (Theories and Studies), Explain in Detail the Principles of Classical Conditioning; Describe the Use of Classical Conditioning in a Number of Therapeutic Techniques and Evaluate the Effectiveness of Such Therapies
Behaviorist theories of learning see all animals as a blank slate at birth, with learning takng place as a result of making an association between events and their environment. There are two forms of associative learning, classical conditioning, which is associative learning before an event, which takes the form of a reflexive response to it, and operant conditioning, which is associated learning after an event, due to its’ consequences. This essay will look at theories behind classical conditioning and their use in the treatment of phobias and addiction.
Classical conditioning was discovered through for the work of the 20th century Russian physiologist Ivan Pavlov who was conducting Nobel prize-winning work on digestion. While investigating the role of saliva in dogs’ digestive processes he stumbled upon a phenomenon he labeled psychic reflexes; the dogs, which were restrained in an experimental chamber were presented with meat powder and their saliva collected by a surgically implanted tube in the saliva glands while measuring the dogs’ salivation on the production of meat powder, Pavlov realised the dogs started to salivate not just at the appearance of the meat powder, but at the appearance of the lab assistant who usually fed them, or at the sound of the containers used to feed them. Realising the importance of his accidental discovery, Pavlov began to experiment by creating an association for the dogs, by ringing a bell each time they were given meat powder; eventually, as he hypothesised, the dogs would salivate on hearing the bell, without any food being produced. Pavlov used this relatively simple experiment as a model for describing much of the automatic/nonconscious learning that occurs in everyday life, the basic characteristic of classical conditioning is that the learning is automatic and non-conscious. Pavlov identified four basic he typical procedure for in classical conditioning involves presentations of a neutral stimulus (the bell) along
Classical conditioning was discovered through for the work of the 20th century Russian physiologist Ivan Pavlov who was conducting Nobel prize-winning work on digestion. While investigating the role of saliva in dogs’ digestive processes he stumbled upon a phenomenon he labeled psychic reflexes; the dogs, which were restrained in an experimental chamber were presented with meat powder and their saliva collected by a surgically implanted tube in the saliva glands while measuring the dogs’ salivation on the production of meat powder, Pavlov realised the dogs started to salivate not just at the appearance of the meat powder, but at the appearance of the lab assistant who usually fed them, or at the sound of the containers used to feed them. Realising the importance of his accidental discovery, Pavlov began to experiment by creating an association for the dogs, by ringing a bell each time they were given meat powder; eventually, as he hypothesised, the dogs would salivate on hearing the bell, without any food being produced. Pavlov used this relatively simple experiment as a model for describing much of the automatic/nonconscious learning that occurs in everyday life, the basic characteristic of classical conditioning is that the learning is automatic and non-conscious. Pavlov identified four basic he typical procedure for in classical conditioning involves presentations of a neutral stimulus (the bell) along