Chapter 2 How and Why People Develop and Learn 29
Pavlov’s Classical Conditioning
Ivan Pavlov demonstrated the idea of behaviorism through his infamous
experiment with a dog. The dog, which had a natural innate tendency to salivate
when in the sight of food learned to salivate at the sound of a bell. This happened
after a training period when a bell would ring each time the dog was to be served
food. After awhile, food was no longer needed for the dog to salivate—only the
sound of the bell. Since that time, this has been termed classical conditioning
(behaviors that are associated with emotional responses).
Does conditioning have to be that direct? Can conditioning happen without
a trainer? Behaviorists answer yes. A parent may be unaware that he or she is
teaching a child to be afraid of something, such as swimming or dogs. Perhaps
the parent takes a loud deep breath and tenses his or her muscles or voice—all
signs of fear. Repeating those reactions may result in a child having the same
fears. Likewise, hearing a favorite song can bring positive thoughts based on an
emotional experience you associate with the song. You may remember a certain
moment, friend, food, or joke. Hearing the song makes you feel good. Positive,
negative, or neutral experiences affect people and a range of emotional associa-
tions, attitudes, and behaviors result.
Skinner’s Operant Conditioning
B.F. Skinner was well-known for identifying the basic principle of operant
conditioning. Operant conditioning is the repetition of behaviors when rein-
forced. People tend to repeat behaviors that have a positive effect. If you receive
a good grade on a project, you may use a similar strategy on a future project, 2-7.
Repeated high grades on tests and projects may result in you believing that you
are good in math.
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2-6
According to behaviorists, how people behave depends solely on what they are
taught, not what they are born with.