Question

________ is the name of the scientist responsible for discovering the learning phenomenon known as _________conditioning in which an organism learns a response to a stimulus to which it normally would not respond.

Short answer

The scientist responsible for the discovery is Ivan Pavlov and the learning phenomenon is known as Classical Conditioning.

Step-by-step solution

Identify the Scientist

The scientist responsible for discovering a major learning phenomenon related to stimulus-based learning was Ivan Pavlov. He was a Russian physiologist who made a significant contribution to behavioural psychology.

Identify the Learning Phenomenon

The learning phenomenon for which Pavlov is known is called 'Classical Conditioning'. He discovered it during his experiments with dogs, noticing a learned response to a stimulus to which the dogs wouldn't normally respond.

Key concepts

Ivan Pavlov

Ivan Pavlov was a Russian physiologist who is best known for his pioneering work in classical conditioning. He initially studied the digestive system in dogs. Over time, Pavlov noticed something peculiar. The dogs would start salivating not only when food was presented but also when they observed lab coats or heard footsteps. These observations led Pavlov to a groundbreaking discovery. This discovery demonstrated how organisms could learn to connect a naturally occurring stimulus with a previously neutral one.

Pavlov's work proved that reflexes could be learned, fundamentally shifting the understanding of behavior at the time. Such experiments marked the foundation of classical conditioning, where Pavlov showed how a neutral stimulus, such as a bell, when paired consistently with an unconditioned stimulus, like food, would eventually trigger a similar response on its own. This pairing resulted in a conditioned response, similar to the dog's natural reflex to salivate.

Pavlov's experiments have had a lasting impact on psychology, showcasing the importance of observation and repetition in behavioral studies. His methods demonstrated that not only can psychological processes be measured and analyzed, but they can also be systematically altered through conditioning.

Behavioral Psychology

Behavioral psychology, often referred to as behaviorism, is a branch of psychology dedicated to understanding how humans and other animals learn from their environment.

The focus lies heavily on observable behaviors and reactions. Behavioral psychology considers the environment's effect on behavior rather than internal mental states like feelings or motivations. It champions the principle that behaviors can be measured and changed through different learning processes, such as conditioning.

Ivan Pavlov's research in classical conditioning is a cornerstone of behavioral psychology. His work demonstrated that behavior can be influenced by manipulating the environmental stimuli, forming and strengthening associations through repetition. This approach shifted the focus from introspection to objective, observable actions, emphasizing learning as a change in observable behavior rather than thought processes.

Behaviorists believe that all behavior can be understood through stimulus-response relationships, which are pivotal to this perspective. It embraces the concept that learning is a result of interacting with the environment and emphasizes reinforcement and punishment as key elements of behavioral change. This has led to practical applications in various fields, including education, therapy, and training.

Stimulus-Response Learning

Stimulus-response learning is a fundamental concept where an organism learns to bring about a reaction following a particular stimulus. In essence, it's about associating a specific response to a specific stimulus. At the heart of this learning process is repetition and observation. As demonstrated in Pavlov's experiments, the dogs learned to respond to the bell by salivating, noticing that it consistently predicted the arrival of food.

This type of learning can be broken down into different phases:

• Acquisition: This is the initial stage where the association between a stimulus and a response is established. Repetition and consistency are crucial for the association to strengthen.
• Extinction: If the conditioned stimulus, like the bell, is presented without the unconditioned stimulus, like food, over time, the learned response will weaken and eventually disappear.
• Spontaneous Recovery: At times, after a response has been extinguished, the response may suddenly reappear when the conditioned stimulus is presented again.

These phases indicate that stimulus-response learning is not just about the formation of new associations, but also about how they can be altered or even lost with varying stimulus exposure.

This kind of learning is foundational to the understanding of behavior modification techniques and helps explain how behaviors can be learned and unlearned over time.