Study Notes on Habituation and Classical Conditioning

Habituation and Behavioral Psychology

Habituation is the process where an individual becomes accustomed to a stimulus, leading to decreased attention over time. This is illustrated through a scenario where a customer repeatedly visits a store, initially attracting security attention. As the same behavior is repeated, the security officer stops paying attention, viewing the customer as non-threatening, which could potentially lead to stealing without being noticed.

John Watson and Classical Conditioning

John Watson, a significant figure in psychology, is renowned for his work in classical conditioning. Unlike Ivan Pavlov, who conditioned a dog, Watson conducted a controversial experiment involving a baby. He used loud noises to instill fear in the child when it reached for a rat, demonstrating how emotional responses could be conditioned. This foundational work contributed to the understanding of behavioral psychology and the mechanisms of fear conditioning. Watson's approach highlighted the power of environmental stimuli in shaping behavior.