Classical Conditioning
Classical conditioning involves learning a new behavior through associations. Early research on classical conditioning used dogs, instead of humans, as subjects for the studies. Russian psychologist Ivan Pavlov found that like humans, dogs associate stimuli with food. Pavlov initially was not studying classical conditioning, but rather how salivation related to the nervous system and digestion. In this interactivity, you will simulate Pavlov's research on classical conditioning. Click the player to begin.
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Based on research by Pavlov, the psychologist John B. Watson conducted research to prove classical conditioning worked on human emotions as well. In the experiment, Watson exposed Little Albert, a child around nine months old, to various stimuli including a white rat, a rabbit, and a monkey. Little Albert's unconditioned response (UCR) to these stimuli was neutral; he did not display any signs of fear.
The next time Watson introduced a white rat to Little Albert, he simultaneously made a loud noise by hitting a metal pipe. Based on what you learned from Pavlov's experiment, make a hypothesis about Little Albert's reaction.
In this instance, the white rat became the conditioned stimulus (CS), which was paired with the loud noise as the unconditioned stimulus (UCS). When this happened, the baby became frightened and cried. By repeatedly pairing the CS and UCS, Watson caused Little Albert to cry when he saw the white rat without hearing the loud noise. Specifically, crying became the conditioned response (CR). Albert also experienced generalization; that is, he started to fear objects similar to the white rat. For example, the child started to fear other white and furry objects like dogs, rabbits, a fur coat, and Watson’s hair.
Take a moment to watch a video clip from Watson's experiment with Little Albert. Notice the child's reaction at the start of the experiment, and how his demeanor changes once Watson strikes a steel bar with a hammer every time Albert tries to touch the animals.
Classical Conditioning Review
Now that you have explored classical conditioning, review your knowledge in this non-graded activity. Click the player to get started.