Classical conditioning is a fundamental type of learning discovered by Ivan Pavlov, in which an organism learns to associate two stimuli. It happens when a previously neutral stimulus is paired over and over with a naturally occurring stimulus, until the neutral one eventually triggers the same response. This is one of the most useful frameworks you have for understanding how we pick up involuntary behaviors like phobias and emotional reactions.
Entrance exams love asking you to label the UCS, UCR, CS, and CR in a real-world scenario, and Watson’s "Little Albert" experiment is the classic example they reach for. Students often mix up stimulus generalization with stimulus discrimination, so here’s a way to remember it: generalization is responding to similar stimuli, while discrimination is telling them apart. One more tip that trips people up: classical conditioning deals with involuntary, natural responses, while operant conditioning deals with voluntary actions.
Part of Basic Psychology, module “Learning & Conditioning”. Sign in (free) to read the full notes, flashcards and the lesson quiz.