Classical conditioning is an important concept in behavioral psychology. First introduced by Russian physiologist Ivan Pavlov in his 1927 book Conditioned Reflexes, classical conditioning was not only a revolutionary finding, but one that is still widely accepted today. Its understanding has lead psychologists to theorize various societal applications. Knowing the mechanisms involved in classical conditioning is key to understanding the importance of this behavioral phenomenon.
Classical conditioning was the first finding that encouraged a behavioral approach to psychology. Behaviorists theorize that individuals learn through their experiences in their environment. Classical conditioning encompasses this perspective by stating that an …show more content…
Experiences can become conditioned, leading to physical responses in the body. For example, military personnel in training have experiences that lead to conditioning. During basic training, reveille is played in the mornings, waking the trainees. They often then undergo a stressful physical activity as a part of this routine. Eventually, the trainees become conditioned to reveille, activating their bodily stress responses when they are awoken by it.
Classical conditioning is also utilized in clinical psychology and therapy. Psychologists to use it to treat phobias, anxiety, drug abuse, as well as understand emotional responses and neural structures involved in learning and memory. For example, a study revealed that cocaine addicts began to associate other white powdery substances with cocaine. Upon seeing these substances, users reported insane urges to use cocaine. To treat addiction, researchers exposed patients to these cocaine “triggers” while in a safe environment where they would not be tempted to use cocaine. This method was very successful throughout an 8-week treatment program (O‘Brien et al.,
Classical conditioning was the first finding that encouraged a behavioral approach to psychology. Behaviorists theorize that individuals learn through their experiences in their environment. Classical conditioning encompasses this perspective by stating that an …show more content…
Experiences can become conditioned, leading to physical responses in the body. For example, military personnel in training have experiences that lead to conditioning. During basic training, reveille is played in the mornings, waking the trainees. They often then undergo a stressful physical activity as a part of this routine. Eventually, the trainees become conditioned to reveille, activating their bodily stress responses when they are awoken by it.
Classical conditioning is also utilized in clinical psychology and therapy. Psychologists to use it to treat phobias, anxiety, drug abuse, as well as understand emotional responses and neural structures involved in learning and memory. For example, a study revealed that cocaine addicts began to associate other white powdery substances with cocaine. Upon seeing these substances, users reported insane urges to use cocaine. To treat addiction, researchers exposed patients to these cocaine “triggers” while in a safe environment where they would not be tempted to use cocaine. This method was very successful throughout an 8-week treatment program (O‘Brien et al.,