Classical Conditioning Associative Learning Essay

Classical conditioning is a common form of associative learning that is used in everyday life. In some instances it is done unintentionally. One may not know how classical conditioning works or even the definition of it, however, there is a very good chance that they used it at one time or another to learn or to teach another person or animal. Classical conditioning is a process of learning. It occurs when a conditioned stimulus is joined with and then follows an unconditioned stimulus. This process is done until the conditioned stimulus creates a response. Classical conditioning is classified as behaviorism. Classical conditioning was discovered in both Russia and America around the nineteenth century (Clark, 2004). There have been many studies done using classical conditioning. The studies tested the effects and successfulness of this type of conditioning. One well known american study is Edwin B Twitmyer’s “knee-jerk” reflex. In this situation, the sound of a bell is paired with a light tap on the tendon of the knee with a doctor’s hammer. The knee would then jerk as a reflex reaction (Clark,
This conditioning took place in high school. As high school students we were taught that a bell would ring at certain times of the day and that would then begin and dismiss the class. For example, my third period class would start at 9:20 and would end at 10:03. A bell would sound at this same time everyday for the entire four years I was in high school. As a freshman I would check the clock to make sure the times were correct. (I would not want to spend extra time in a class if I did not have to. Would anyone?) By the time I was a senior in high school, I stopped checking the clock. As soon as the bell sounded I dropped all my work, even my train of thought, and then moved to the next class. The change of setting, or thought, by the sound of a bell was a successful experience of classical conditioning for