Classical Conditioning - Free Essay Examples and Topic Ideas

Classical conditioning is a type of learning that occurs when a neutral stimulus is paired with a naturally occurring stimulus, which then causes a previously neutral stimulus to elicit a similar response as the naturally occurring stimulus. This type of conditioning is often used in psychology to understand how behavior is influenced by outside stimuli, such as in the case of Pavlov’s dogs learning to associate the sound of a bell with being fed. Over time, the neutral stimulus becomes a conditioned stimulus that elicits a conditioned response, which can be involuntary and automatic. Classical conditioning is a fundamental concept in behavioral psychology and has many applications in both animal and human behavior.