Classical Conditioning Theory

Classical conditioning is a learning theory that associates a biological response to a new stimulus, eliciting the same response.

Ivan Pavlov's Experiment

In 1890, Ivan Pavlov conducted research on dog digestion.
During the research, Pavlov noticed that dogs began to drool when researchers appeared.
Experimental steps:
- First, feed the dog.
- Then sound a metronome bell during feeding.
- Repeat the experiment, eventually only the bell sound is needed for the dog to start secreting saliva.
Conclusion: When a new stimulus (bell sound) is associated with food, the new stimulus alone can trigger the dog to secrete saliva.

Unconditioned Stimulus: A stimulus that naturally triggers a biological instinctual response (like food).
Conditioned Stimulus: Originally neutral, it becomes able to trigger a biological response after repeatedly being associated with an unconditioned stimulus (like a bell sound).
Unconditioned Reflex: An instinctual response directly triggered by an unconditioned stimulus.
Conditioned Reflex: A response triggered by a conditioned stimulus.

The shorter the interval between the sound and food, the quicker the learning.
The physiological response caused by the conditioned reflex differs from that of the unconditioned reflex.
Classical conditioning cannot be used to train new behaviors; it triggers involuntary physiological responses.
The conditioned reflex can be extinguished through the "extinction" principle: repeating the presentation of the conditioned stimulus without the unconditioned stimulus, gradually leads to the disappearance of the reflex.

When the dog sees food (unconditioned stimulus), visual and olfactory stimuli activate the brain, triggering the salivary glands to secrete saliva.
When the dog hears a sound (conditioned stimulus), the sound as a new stimulus establishes new synaptic connections with the original response (saliva secretion), strengthening over time.

Classical conditioning theory can be used to create effective learning and training materials.
By repeating associations, it helps to form memories and learn new knowledge.

Classical conditioned reflexes are very common in advertising, used as a psychological manipulation technique.
Discussions on restricting advertising in public places are based on the potential manipulation nature of classical conditioning theory.

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