Classical Conditioning

Classical conditioning is a fundamental learning theory that elucidates the association between stimuli and responses in living organisms. Ivan Pavlov was the first person to look into this way of learning in the early 1900s. It happens when a neutral stimulus is repeatedly paired with an unconditioned stimulus that makes the person react in a certain way. Over time, the neutral stimulus becomes a conditioned stimulus, which means it can now cause a conditioned response on its own. Pavlov's famous experiment with dogs, in which they learned to drool when they heard a bell that rang every time they got food, showed this idea.

If the unconditioned stimulus is no longer present with the conditioned stimulus, the conditioned reaction may slowly fade. This is what "extinction" means. But reactions that have been turned off can come back for a short time through spontaneous recovery. Generalization and discrimination are two parts of classical conditioning. Generalization is learning to respond to things that are similar to the conditioned stimulus, while discrimination is learning to only respond to certain cues. This idea can be used in many different situations in real life. One way that ads make people think about their products is by using music or pictures that make them feel good. Therapists use exposure therapy to help people with phobias break bad habits. One of the most important ideas in psychology is classical conditioning. It tells you how habits, likes, and emotional responses are learned through experience.