Classical Conditioning & Ivan Pavlov | Behaviourist Approach | AQA Psychology | A-level

Summary

This video from the Verity Mind series delves into behaviorism, focusing on classical conditioning through Ivan Pavlov's research. It explains how behaviors are shaped by the environment, using the concept of tabula rasa, or 'blank slate.' Pavlov's experiments with dogs revealed learning through association, where neutral stimuli like a bell become conditioned to elicit responses like salivation when paired with food. The video outlines key concepts: unconditioned and conditioned stimuli, generalization, discrimination, extinction, and spontaneous recovery. It challenges viewers to apply these concepts to understand everyday behaviors and phobias.

Takeaways

• 🔬 Ivan Pavlov's research into the digestive system of dogs led to the discovery of classical conditioning.
• 🐾 Classical conditioning is a learning process where two stimuli are repeatedly paired, leading to an association between them.
• 👂 The neutral stimulus, like a bell, becomes a conditioned stimulus after being paired with an unconditioned stimulus, such as food.
• 🐕 Pavlov's dogs began to salivate at the sound of a bell after it was repeatedly paired with food, demonstrating learning through association.
• 🌟 Behaviorism, as proposed by John B. Watson, suggests that behavior is shaped by the environment and is observable and measurable.
• 🧠 The concept of 'tabula rasa' implies that humans are born without preconceived ideas and are shaped by their experiences.
• 🔄 Generalization in classical conditioning occurs when the conditioned response is triggered by stimuli similar to the original conditioned stimulus.
• ⏹ Extinction is the weakening of a conditioned response when the conditioned stimulus is presented without the unconditioned stimulus.
• 🔁 Spontaneous recovery can occur after extinction, where the conditioned response may reappear without further conditioning.
• 🤔 Classical conditioning can explain involuntary reflex behaviors, such as salivation, and can be applied to understanding phobias and fears.
• 📚 The video series explores different approaches in psychology, including behaviorism, to understand human behavior from various perspectives.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the video?

The video focuses on exploring behaviorism, specifically classical conditioning and the research of Ivan Pavlov.

What is the significance of Ivan Pavlov's research in the field of psychology?

Ivan Pavlov's research is significant because it introduced the concept of classical conditioning, which explains how learning occurs through the association of stimuli.

What is the difference between a neutral stimulus and an unconditioned stimulus in classical conditioning?

A neutral stimulus is something that naturally does not evoke a response, like a bell. An unconditioned stimulus is something that naturally evokes a response without learning, such as food causing a dog to salivate.

How does classical conditioning relate to involuntary reflex behaviors?

Classical conditioning applies to involuntary reflex behaviors because it involves the association of stimuli to elicit an automatic response, like salivation.

What is generalization in the context of Pavlov's experiments?

Generalization is when the conditioned response occurs to a stimulus that is similar but not identical to the original conditioned stimulus, such as a dog salivating to different bell sounds.

Can you explain the concept of discrimination in Pavlov's experiments?

Discrimination is when the conditioned response does not occur to a stimulus that is significantly different from the original conditioned stimulus, like a dog not salivating to the sound of a phone ring.

What does extinction mean in classical conditioning?

Extinction is the process where the conditioned response gradually weakens and eventually disappears when the conditioned stimulus is presented without the unconditioned stimulus.

What is spontaneous recovery in classical conditioning?

Spontaneous recovery is the possibility that a previously extinguished conditioned response may reappear after some time without reinforcement, such as a dog salivating again upon hearing a bell after a period of no food association.

How does classical conditioning relate to the treatment of phobias?

Classical conditioning is related to the treatment of phobias because it provides a framework for understanding how fears can be learned and then unlearned through the process of extinction.

What is the role of John B. Watson in the development of behaviorist psychology?

John B. Watson is considered the founder of behaviorist psychology. He emphasized the importance of observable and measurable behavior and believed that all behaviors are learned from the environment.

How does operant conditioning differ from classical conditioning?

Operant conditioning, developed by B.F. Skinner, focuses on the reinforcement or punishment of behaviors to increase or decrease their frequency, whereas classical conditioning, as studied by Pavlov, involves learning through the association of stimuli.

Outlines

00:00

🐾 Introduction to Behaviorism and Classical Conditioning

This paragraph introduces the topic of behaviorism and classical conditioning, focusing on the work of Ivan Pavlov. It explains that behaviorism is a branch of psychology that focuses on observable and measurable behaviors, moving away from introspection methods. The paragraph discusses the idea of humans as 'tabula rasa' or blank slates, shaped by environmental experiences. It contrasts classical conditioning with operant conditioning, setting the stage for exploring Pavlov's research on how animals learn to associate stimuli. The video series context is also mentioned, encouraging viewers to check out previous and upcoming videos on different approaches in psychology.

05:01

🔔 Understanding Classical Conditioning with Pavlov's Experiments

This paragraph delves into the specifics of classical conditioning through Pavlov's experiments with dogs. It describes the process of associating a neutral stimulus (like a bell) with an unconditioned stimulus (food) to elicit a learned response (salivation) even in the absence of the unconditioned stimulus. The paragraph outlines key concepts such as generalization, discrimination, and extinction, explaining how these processes occur in classical conditioning. It also touches on the application of these concepts in treating phobias and encourages viewers to apply their understanding of classical conditioning to everyday life and to explore further through related videos.

Keywords

💡Behaviorism

Behaviorism is a psychological approach that focuses on observable and measurable behaviors rather than internal mental states. In the video, it is highlighted as a perspective that views human behavior as shaped by the environment and experiences, akin to animals, making it an objective field of study. Behaviorism is foundational to understanding the subsequent discussions on classical and operant conditioning.

💡Classical Conditioning

Classical Conditioning is a learning process where a neutral stimulus becomes associated with an unconditioned stimulus, leading to a learned response. The video uses Ivan Pavlov's experiments with dogs as a prime example, where the sound of a bell (neutral stimulus) was paired with food (unconditioned stimulus), eventually leading to the dogs salivating at the sound of the bell alone.

💡Ivan Pavlov

Ivan Pavlov was a Russian scientist who conducted significant research on the digestive system, which led to his discovery of classical conditioning. His experiments with dogs and the bell-food pairing are central to the video's discussion on how learning occurs through association.

💡Neutral Stimulus

A neutral stimulus is something that does not naturally evoke a response. In the video, the bell is described as a neutral stimulus because it does not inherently cause a reaction in dogs. However, through classical conditioning, it becomes a signal for food, thus acquiring the ability to elicit a response.

💡Unconditioned Stimulus

The unconditioned stimulus is a stimulus that naturally triggers a response without learning. In Pavlov's experiment, food is the unconditioned stimulus because dogs naturally salivate when they see, smell, or taste it. The video emphasizes this as a starting point for classical conditioning.

💡Conditioned Stimulus

A conditioned stimulus is a stimulus that, after association with an unconditioned stimulus, elicits a response on its own. The video explains that after repeated pairings, the bell (initially neutral) becomes a conditioned stimulus that causes the dogs to salivate even in the absence of food.

💡Generalization

Generalization in classical conditioning refers to the process where a conditioned response is elicited by stimuli that are similar but not identical to the original conditioned stimulus. The video suggests that Pavlov's dogs might salivate at other bell-like sounds, illustrating how generalization expands the range of stimuli that can trigger a response.

💡Discrimination

Discrimination is the ability to differentiate between a conditioned stimulus and other stimuli that do not signal the unconditioned stimulus. The video uses the example of dogs potentially distinguishing between a bell and a phone ring, showing that not all similar sounds will elicit the conditioned response.

💡Extinction

Extinction is the weakening of a conditioned response when the conditioned stimulus is repeatedly presented without the unconditioned stimulus. The video explains that if the bell rings without food being presented, the dogs' salivation response will eventually diminish, demonstrating the process of extinction.

💡Spontaneous Recovery

Spontaneous recovery is the unexpected return of a conditioned response after a period of extinction. The video suggests that if the bell is no longer associated with food, and then the bell rings, the dog might still salivate due to the spontaneous recovery of the conditioned response.

💡John B. Watson

John B. Watson is a key figure in behaviorism who believed that behavior is shaped entirely by environmental factors. His famous quote about shaping a child's behavior, as mentioned in the video, underscores the behaviorist belief in the malleability of behavior through environmental conditioning.

💡Tabula Rasa

Tabula Rasa, meaning 'blank slate' in Latin, is the concept that humans are born without inherent ideas or predispositions. The video uses this term to describe the behaviorist view that it is the environment and experiences that write on this slate, shaping an individual's behavior.

Highlights

Behaviorism and classical conditioning are explored in this video.

Ivan Pavlov's research on classical conditioning is featured.

Behaviorism is part of learning theories in psychology.

John B. Watson is a prominent figure in behaviorism.

Watson believed the environment shapes behavior.

Behaviorists view humans as tabula rasa, or blank slates.

Classical conditioning involves learning through association.

Pavlov's research意外发现 dogs salivated to non-food stimuli.

The process of classical conditioning is explained with key terms.

Generalization is a concept where stimuli are perceived as similar.

Discrimination is the ability to distinguish between different stimuli.

Extinction is the weakening of a conditioned response over time.

Spontaneous recovery can occur after extinction.

Retrieval practice is encouraged to test understanding.

Classical conditioning can explain how people develop fears or aversions.

The video series includes an introduction to approaches in psychology.

Social learning theory is another approach to learning in psychology.

Operant conditioning by B.F. Skinner will be explored in the next video.

Transcripts

today we're going to be talking about

ivan pavlov

maybe that name rings a bell welcome

back to verity mind in this video we're

going to explore behaviorism and

specifically classical conditioning and

the research of ivan pavlov this video

is part of a series looking at the topic

called approaches in psychology each of

these approaches explains human behavior

from a different perspective the first

video in this series was an introduction

and included the important work of

wilhelm vunt and introspection so do

check that out before you dive into this

video and the other approaches and just

a quick side note for you to be aware of

the behaviorist approach comes under the

larger heading of learning theories the

other approach being social learning

theory and at the end of this video

there will be some retrieval practice of

what we cover in this video so that you

can check your understanding let's dive

in

one prominent behaviour was a man by the

name of john watson

no not that john watson that would be

cool it's another john watson this one

a john b watson

john b watson is quoted as saying men

are built not born give me the baby and

i'll make it climb and use its hands in

constructing buildings of stone or wood

the possibilities of shaping in any

direction are almost endless

and he also said

psychology as the behaviourist views it

is a purely objective experimental

branch of natural science the position

is taken here that the behavior of man

and the behavior of animals must be

considered in the same plane these

quotes helpfully get us into the

thinking of the behaviourist approaches

point of view for john b watson he took

the view that the shaping of the

environment that a person was in was the

key factor to understanding behavior

according to the behaviourist approach

behavior should be observable and

measurable moving away from wilhelm

von's introspection method

animals and humans are comparable we can

study animals and learn about human

behavior

and all behaviours learned from the

environment

this strong focus on the environment

often sees behaviorists refer to humans

as tabula rasa

latin for blank slates this is the idea

that we come into this world as blank

slates without any preconceived ideas no

inborn ideas what's written on the blank

slates our experiences we have in the

environment and that is what makes us

who we are

it's the environment that shapes

behavior to quote watson one last time

behavioristic psychology has its goal

to be able given the stimulus

to predict the response

for behaviorists the main idea is that

behaviors learned from the environment

through focusing on stimulus and

response

behaviorists now break learning down

into two parts one classical

conditioning in the work of ivan pavlov

and secondly operant conditioning and

the work of bf skinner we're going to

explore classical conditioning in this

video and operant conditioning in the

next one

ivan pavlov was a rather interesting

bloke with an even more interesting

career he was a russian scientist who

won the nobel prize in 1904 for his

research into wait for it

the digestive system of dogs

particularly the amount of saliva they

produced what pavlov stumbled across as

part of his research was that the dogs

started to salivate and drool before any

food was presented to them they started

salivating at the sound of footsteps as

the food was brought to them or the

sight of the white lab coat of the

person bringing the food to be clear

they hadn't seen the food yet only heard

the footsteps or saw the white lab coat

having witnessed this pavlov decided to

investigate how we can learn to

associate one thing with another what is

referred to as classical conditioning

classical conditioning he's learning

through association pavlov wanted to see

if he could associate dog food with a

bell to see if dogs would salivate not

when the food was presented but at just

the sound of a bell we can explain the

process of classical conditioning

through the following diagram and key

terms according to classical

conditioning there is a neutral stimulus

in this case the bell it is neutral

because in and of itself a belly is

neutral it doesn't produce a response

other than to perhaps look at it when it

rings it's just a bell then there is an

unconditioned stimulus the word

unconditioned is getting at the idea

that is not been learned for example

when a dog is presented with food it

naturally salivates the dog doesn't have

to learn to produce saliva in response

to food

now what happens is the neutral stimulus

of the bell and the unconditioned

stimulus food are paired together our

behaviorists would say associated

together when this happens it leads to

the same response as before salivation

finally after lots of repeated pairings

the unconditioned stimulus food is

removed and you're left with the bell

which because of the previous pairing is

no longer a neutral stimulus but are

conditioned stimulus it has become a

learned stimulus and you've guessed it

what it leads to is a response of

salivation in the dogs even though there

is no food present

so classical conditioning is learning

through association when two stimuli are

repeatedly paired together they become

associated with one another

the response that results from one

stimulus is now associated with a new

stimulus

it's also important to note that

classical conditioning only applies to

involuntary reflex behaviors such as

salivation as soon as you pile up dogs

and fears

now we can develop our understanding of

classical conditioning a bit further by

what pavlov also noted from his many

pieces of research with the dogs

firstly there is generalization this is

where the condition stimulus the bell

could be generalized to other sounds the

volume or tone could change and still

produce salvation for example in the

case of pavlov's dogs and the bell we

can imagine that when the dogs hear

other sounds like a doorbell ringing the

dog might also salivate the sound isn't

exactly the same but it's similar enough

to produce the same response

secondly discrimination this is where

the sound becomes too different from the

original bell sound that no salivation

occurs for example the dogs might be

able to make a distinction between the

sound of a bell and the sound of a phone

ringing

thirdly extinction this is the gradual

weakening of a conditioned response if

the conditioned stimulus continues to be

presented but the real unconditioned

stimulus never appears the association

eventually weakens and becomes extinct

for example if the belly is continually

presented without food salivation would

eventually disappear the behavior has

been extinguished now the idea of

extinction in relation to classical

conditioning is an important concept in

the treatment of phobias i've done a

video on this if you want to check it

out and i'll link it in the description

for you below however fourthly there is

still the chance of what is called

spontaneous recovery if pavlov had

stopped presenting the food when the

bell rang so the behavior had become

extinct there is still the possibility

for the response to spontaneously

recover the dog may hear the bell and be

excited and start to salivating

expectation of the food spontaneous

recovery does tend to be less strong

than the original response given the

extinction that's already occurred

right let's test yourself now is the

time for some retrieval practice let's

see what you've learned from this video

never be afraid to test yourself it's

one of the key paths to learning i'll

present one question at a time you can

pause the video to answer it yourself

first and then press play again to

reveal the answer here we go question

one classical conditioning is learning

by

question two

in pavlov's conditioning of the dogs

what key term in classical conditioning

is given to the food

question three in pavlov's conditioning

of the dogs what key terms in classical

conditioning are given to the bell

before and after learning

question four what is meant by the term

extinction in relation to classical

conditioning and can you give an example

and number five

using your knowledge of classical

conditioning explain how someone may

have learned to feel sick when they see

the kfc sign

so now that you hopefully understand

something of the behaviourist approach

bear in mind how much of your behavior

and the behavior of those around you may

be the result of classical conditioning

be on the lookout for associations in

your life and perhaps if you have a

particular fear in your life you might

want to check out this video on treating

phobias to see how you can use the same

idea of how behaviors are learned

through classical conditioning to then

unlearn behaviors through the same

process

and for more on the other approaches in

psychology check out the link to the

playlist in the description below i hope

you found this video helpful and we'll

see you in the next one