Classical Conditioning and Children

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses the classical conditioning theory of Ivan Petrovich Pavlov. It describes the background of Pavlov's life and the influences on his upbringing.The paper then discusses the development of Pavlov's classical conditioning theory as a behavior or learning theory. Finally, the paper examines how his theory can be related to learning behaviors in children.

From the Paper:

"Another experiment was used with "little Albert." This is a famous study with an 11-month old boy who was taught to fear a harmless laboratory rat (Morris, & Maisto, 11th ed., p. 191). The infant crawled towards the rat and tried to play with it. Every time he approached the rat, the experimenters made a loud noise by striking a steel bar. ((Morris, & Maisto, 11th ed., p. 192). The child was frightened just by seeing the rat. We can also learn and unlearn phobias. We are born with natural instincts for survival and we keep what we need in order to survive. All the common objects of phobias - heights, snakes, cats, the dark and others are "related to the survival of the human species through the long course of evolution (Seligman, 1972, p.455)." Thus, we may be prepared to develop different fears but we are not afraid of flowers. We can learn behavior and we can unlearn behavior."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Charles G. Morris, Albert A. Maisto, Psychology an Introduction, eleventh edition page 192
• George Windholtz American Psychologist, Ivan P. Pavlov an Overview of His Life and Psychological work
• B.R. Hergenhahn An Introduction to the History of Psychology Fifth edition
• The Psychological Bulletin Vol. 33, No. 8 Pavlov' Contribution to Psychology, H.S. Liddell Department of Physiology and Biochemistry Cornell University Medical College, Ithaca, N.Y.
• John J Furedy Root of the Pavlov and Society' Missions of the Past and Present: The Pavlov and Dimension, Department of Psychology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario

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