5.1.5

Pavlov's Experiment

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Pavlov's Experiment

Pavlov performed a famous set of experiments on dogs that demonstrated classical conditioning. By the end of the experiment, the dogs paired a tone with meat powder and began to salivate when they heard a tone, which is a stimulus that previously wouldn't have elicited a response.

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Unconditioned stimulus and response

  • In the experiments, the dogs salivated each time meat powder was presented to them.
  • The meat powder in this situation was an unconditioned stimulus (UCS).
  • The dogs’ salivation was an unconditioned response (UCR).
  • Before conditioning, think of the dogs’ stimulus and response like this:
    • Meat powder (UCS) → salivation (UCR).
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Classical conditioning

  • In classical conditioning, a neutral stimulus is presented immediately before an unconditioned stimulus.
  • Pavlov would sound a tone (like ringing a bell) and then give the dogs the meat powder.
  • The tone was the neutral stimulus (NS).
  • Quite simply this pairing means:
    • Tone (NS) + meat powder (UCS) → salivation (UCR).
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Conditioned stimulus

  • When Pavlov paired the tone with the meat powder repeatedly, the previously neutral stimulus (the tone) also made the dogs salivate.
  • The neutral stimulus became the conditioned stimulus (CS).
  • Eventually, the dogs began to salivate to the tone alone, just as they previously had salivated at the sound of the assistants’ footsteps.
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Conclusion

  • In the case of Pavlov's dogs, they had learned to associate the tone (CS) with being fed. They began to salivate in anticipation of food when they heard the tone, making salivation the conditioned response (CR).
    • Tone (CS) → salivation (CR).

Behaviourism

Behaviourism is the psychological approach of observing and controlling behaviour, which incorporates elements of Pavlov's classical conditioning.

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Behaviourism

  • Behaviourism is a school of thought that arose during the first part of the 20th century, which incorporates elements of Pavlov’s classical conditioning.
  • Behaviourism is the psychological approach of observing and controlling behaviour.
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Object of study

  • A major object of study by behaviourists was learned behaviour and its interaction with inborn qualities of the organism.
  • Behaviourism commonly used animals in experiments under the assumption that what was learned using animal models could partly be applied to human behavior.
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The role of behaviourism

  • Behaviourism dominated experimental psychology for several decades, and its influence can still be felt today.
  • Behaviourism is largely responsible for establishing psychology as a scientific discipline through its objective methods and experimentation.
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Real world uses of behaviourism

  • Behaviourism is used:
    • In behavioural and cognitive-behavioural therapy.
    • In classroom settings.
    • In informing research on environmental influences on human behaviour.

Jump to other topics

1Social Influence

2Memory

3Attachment

4Psychopathology

5Approaches in Psychology

6Biopsychology

7Research Methods

8Issues & Debates in Psychology (A2 only)

9Option 1: Relationships (A2 only)

10Option 1: Gender (A2 only)

11Option 1: Cognition & Development (A2 only)

12Option 2: Schizophrenia (A2 only)

13Option 2: Eating Behaviour (A2 only)

14Option 2: Stress (A2 only)

15Option 3: Aggression (A2 only)

16Option 3: Forensic Psychology (A2 only)

17Option 3: Addiction (A2 only)

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