Classical Conditioning

Classical conditioning is a method of conditioning where an organism learns to associate a natural stimulus and a learned, neutral stimulus.

Ivan Pavlov’s famous dog experiment demonstrates this form of conditioning quite well.

An unconditioned stimulus is a naturally occurring thing that causes an unconditioned response. (e.g. food causing salivation)

A neutral stimulus is something presented before or during exposure to an unconditioned stimulus to make a conditioned stimulus. (e.g. a bell being rung while food is delivered)

A conditioned response is a reaction to the neutral stimulus due to its association with an unconditioned stimulus. (e.g. salivating when a bell is rung)

Emotional conditioning can generalize to other similar objects.

Conditioning is naturally unlearned when the neutral stimulus is no longer shown with the natural stimulus.

Mary Cover Jones performed experiments using children with phobias to see if fear could be unlearned.

Fear can be unlearned through classical conditioning.