How does classical conditioning demonstrate learning by association?
Answers
Classical conditioning demonstrate learning by association:
- Conditioning is a type of learning as an organisms learn to associate with stimulus.
- It was first explained in pavlovs experiment where dog was kept on a harness with a tube attached to one side of its jaw and measuring jar on other side.
- Dog was kept hungry in the experiment every time the dogs given food bell was rung before it, slowly the dog was conditioned that when bell rung meant the food will be served.
- The dog will salivate when the bell rings and salivates even food was not served.
- Hence salivation becomes conditioned response to the conditioned stimulus.
Classical conditioning was originally proposed by Ivan Pavlov and identified it as a ‘fundamental associative learning process’.
Explanation:
Classical conditioning occurs when a “neutral stimulus is associated with a stimulus” which produces a behavior naturally. A previously learnt stimulus is enough to produce a behavior once the association is made.
Pavlov explained associative learning takes place through acquisition, extinction and spontaneous recovery.
Before conditioning, an unconditioned stimulus leads to unconditioned response
A neutral stimulus will not produce a response until paired with a unconditioned stimulus.
During conditioning, the neutral stimulus is associated with unconditioned stimulus to bring out a conditioned stimulus,
After conditioning, the conditioned stimulus associates with the unconditioned stimulus to bring about the conditioned response.