Psychology.describe the key features of classical conditioning,and explain what advantage animal might gain from learning in that way - Essay Example

s as an interesting phenomenon and upon more experimentation, he found that they were salivating when they saw his assistants who were dressed in white coats (Huitt and Hummel, 1997, p. 1). Upon further investigation, he found out that the dogs were associating the assistants with food so they were preparing for their dinner. Classical conditioning works on a variety of stimuli and responses. An unconditioned stimulus is something that automatically triggers a response. A good example is what happens when someone gets a speck of dust in their eye.

They do not think about what to do, they just start to blink. The eyes blink to get rid of the dirt. The dust (unconditioned stimulus) triggers the blinking of the eye (the unconditioned response). Another aspect for classical conditioning is the conditioned stimulus which starts to as a neutral stimulus, becomes associated with the unconditioned response and will eventually (after the behaviour is repeated several times) trigger a conditioned response (Wagner, 2009). As an example, Pavlov created the famous experiment where he rang a bell each time food was given.

Once the dogs associated food with the bell, they stood in position and started salivating because they knew that food was coming. These four aspects of classical conditioning are the foundation for observing behaviour. Classical conditioning has been used in everyday life. Some dog trainers help dog owners change the unwanted behaviour of their dogs by using classical conditioning techniques. Therapists have used these methods to help people get over phobias. They are able to help the individual diminish their fear through these techniques.

Many people have been able to use classical conditioning to increase or decrease behaviour. According to this theory animals do not learn a new behaviour through classical conditioning but Wynne (2001) suggests that animals have cognition and it can be possible that they are learning. Wynnes premise is that every animal