Classical Conditioning

Classical conditioning is a theory coined by the Russian physiologist Ivan Pavlov. His theory is centered around the idea that a when an environmental stimulus is accompanied by a naturally occurring stimulus, a new learned response can be created. When looking at classical conditioning, it helps to segment conditioning into phases to better understand what is happening. Classical conditioning tends to be separated into “pre-” “during” and “post” phases (wording may vary).

Phase 1: Pre-conditioning

• • This phase requires that a naturally occurring stimulus be present to elicit a response.
    • In other words, a stimulus needs to result in an unconditioned response (UCR)

Phase 2: During Conditioning 

•  This phase requires that the naturally occurring stimulus be paired with a neutral stimulus
  • In other words, an unconditioned stimulus (UCS) needs to pair with a naturally occurring stimulus in order to become a conditioned response (CS)

Phase 3: Post Conditioning

• Once an association is made between the UCS and the CS, presenting the conditioned stimulus even by itself will evoke the conditioned response (CR). It no longer depends on the naturally occurring stimulus to be there

Personal Application

When I was about 7 years old, I would always catch my parents watching 24. 24 was a very popular television show about a government agent named Jack Bauer. One night my family was eating Chinese takeout (UCS) while watching an episode of 24. In the episode, Jack Bauer was eating Chinese food alone while on mission when all of a sudden he was dragged out of the restaurant and thrown in prison. The episode went on to show Jack Bauer being tortured as his captors attempted to solicit information from him. Watching something painful (naturally occurring stimulus) terrified me (UCR). For years after that evening, I stayed away from Chinese food (CS). Every time I was around it, terror gripped me (CR) and I was reminded of the horrific scene I witnessed as a kid.