Why Is Classical Conditioning Used?
Classical conditioning is used for two reasons: • To create an association between a stimulus that would not normally have any meaning along with a stimulus that would have meaning • To train automatic responses (e.g., drooling, blinking, or even emotions can be considered automatic responses) Of course, we don’t really need to teach our dogs to blink or drool, but the emotion part is important to us. The recess bell has no meaning until it’s paired with playtime; the word “Sit” has no meaning unless paired with sitting; and the smoke alarm has no meaning until you see the fire. Let’s say you hear a song you’ve never heard before, playing on the radio at the dentist’s office while you’re getting a particularly painful root canal. The next time you hear that song, you may switch radio stations; in fact, you may never listen to that radio station again. Next you hear a different song when you meet “your true love.” Whenever you hear this song, loving, misty feelings come over you. Your d
