Classical And Operant Conditioning And The Field Of...

How have studies of classical and operant conditioning contributed to the field of psychology? In this essay I will outline the main principles of both operant and classical conditioning methods and discuss what both theories have contributed to the field of psychology and what they have taught us about the way in which some human behaviour occurs. Classical conditioning, also known as Pavlovian conditioning (Davis, S. F., Buskist, W. (2008). 21st century psychology: a reference handbook Page 312 (Vol. 1). Sage.) states our behaviours are instigated by associating certain stimuli with other behaviours which involves four main learning principles known as acquisition, extinction, spontaneous recovery and stimulus generalisation and discrimination. (Martin, G.N., Carlson, N.R., and Buskist, W. (2013). Psychology. (5th ed.). Page 228 Harlow, Essex: Pearson Education. Chapter 7). Acquisition refers to the learning phase in classical conditioning when the conditioned stimulus increases in strength, extinction refers to when the conditioned stimulus is no longer linked with the unconditioned stimulus. Spontaneous recover refers to the resurfacing of the conditioned response after a period in which the response has been less apparent. Finally, stimulus generalisation and discrimination refers to when a conditioned response applies to similar stimuli, for example, being conditioned to fear a stuffed white rabbit the same behaviour will apply to an object of the same varietyShow MoreRelatedLearning and Development Theories939 Words   |  4 Pagesseveral theorists in the field of psychology who have endeavored to understand the development and behavior of human beings. The efforts of these theorists have contributed to the emergence of several theories that explain their work. Actually, there are three major learning and development theories that are relevant in explaining the development of individuals. Classical and Operant Conditioning: One of the most important learning theories is classical conditioning that was discovered by IvanRead MoreThe Diverse Nature Of Psychology1200 Words   |  5 Pages The Diverse Nature of Psychology Name Institution The Diverse Nature of Psychology Introduction Psychology consists of a wide collection of diverse concepts, which influence its precise nature that includes the study of behavior and mind in different organisms. Ideally, these organisms range from the most complex to the most primitive. In essence, diversity involves recognizing the variability of characteristics, which make people unique such as their physical appearance, partnered/maritalRead More The Science of Psychology Essay1078 Words   |  5 Pages The Science of Psychology Psychology is defined as â€Å"the scientific study of the behavior of individuals and their mental processes supported by research†. The word psychology itself is derived from two Latin roots- â€Å"psyche† meaning mind and â€Å"logos†Read MoreEssay Operant Conditioning1743 Words   |  7 PagesPavlov Classical conditioning is a method used in behavioral studies. It is known as classical because it is the first study of laws of learning/conditioning, It is a learned reaction that you do when evoked by a stimulus. Ivan Pavlov was the scientist who discovered classical conditioning. Ivan Pavlov was born in Russia. He lived from 1849 - 1936 . Pavlov’s field of study was physiology and natural science. One of Pavlov’s discoveries was the conditioning of dogs. While workingRead MorePsychological Conditioning and Theories of Behavior1013 Words   |  4 PagesIntroduction- In the field of psychology, behaviorism was one of the theoretical ideas that changed quite drastically during the 20th century. Behaviorism tried to diminish the emphasis on the conscious and unconscious parts of the mind, instead putting forward a new way to look at human behavior that is empirical (observed, quantified, and measured). Ivan Pavlov, for instance, was researching the digestive systems of dogs and led him to the discovery of classical condition, a way to modify behaviorsRead MoreThe Contribution of Different Approaches to Psychology for the Development of Modern Psychology1147 Words   |  5 Pages Psychology is a vast field which consists of theories and approaches where it involves certain assumptions on human behavior. How they function and the aspects of the behavior that needs to be studied, in addition to the research methods that are needed to be followed in order to understand it thoroughly. These approaches provide characteristic viewpoints and emphasize different factors. These approaches have contributed towards the development of modern psychology in various ways. Read MoreBehaviorism, Operant And Classical Conditioning1309 Words   |  6 PagesBehaviorism is a school of thought that was joined from no other than John B. Watson. Behaviorism is the theory or doctrine that human or animal psychology can be accurately studied only through the examination and analysis of objectively observable and quantifiable behavioral events, in contrast with subjective mental states. Behaviorism was a movement in psychology and philosophy that emphasized the outward behavioral aspects of thought and dismissed the inward experiential, and sometimes the inner proceduralRead MoreClassical Vs. Operant Conditioning1582 Words   |  7 PagesClassical and Operant Conditioning Ivan Pavlov once said, Don t become a mere recorder of facts, but try to penetrate the mystery of their origin.† Often times in the fast pace world that college students live today many get so caught up in sheer memorization of everything that comes their way just to pass with that sought-after A. What is often looked past is the true meaning of concepts and ideas to retain the information needed for success. It was this very mindset instilled with in greatRead MorePsychology : Psychology And Psychology1519 Words   |  7 PagesPsychology has been defined by many as the study of mental disorder or behavioral problems but discoveries and developments, points to psychology as the study of human mind and its functionality which includes the way we think, act, perceive things and be able to make decisions; all these makes man a complex being. Psychology isn’t just a phenomenon; it is a scientific study. Psychology as a science answers the question â€Å"why†, proposes a theory and sets experiment to test the hypothesis. The researchRead MoreClassical or Operant Conditioning Essay1115 Words   |  5 PagesClassical conditioning developed from the findings of Ivan Pavlov, laying the foundations for behaviourism. From this J.B Watson and other behaviourists argued psychology should be indicative of predicting and controlling overt behaviour using the conditional reflex. (Watson, 1994). This essay will describe the important features of classical conditioning, consider their use in explaining pathological behaviour and will be answered using empirical evidence. The earlier part of the essay will focus