Classical Conditioning and Behaviour - Essay Example

?Running Head: ICAL CONDITIONING AND BEHAVIOR ical Conditioning And Behavior Behavior of any individual is attained through habituation and training. A child starts grasping the affection and attention that he gains from every member in his vicinity. In these formative years, behavior and the social interaction with the society paves the way for grooming the personality of the child. It is essential that alterations be made in the behavior when unhealthy attitude is observed. In some grave cases repeated motivation to change the behavior is required which may or may not be related to therapeutic issues. Behavior is directed between stimuli (S) and response (R), the SR Model. According to Watson, even the most intricate acts of life are derived from the combination of stimulus-response behavior pattern (Web. John B. Watson). Activities that influence the performance or behavior of an individual is designated as behavior or mental process. Mental process encompasses different cognitive operations which are essential in learning process, procuring knowledge, reasoning, memory or learning skills, perception and outlook, attention and ability to be alert and attentive, language skills and communication, thoughts and aptitude, emotions, decision making and problem solving skills. Behavior aids in being considerate towards brain functioning, communication and interpersonal predispositions, motivation and social behavior along with the physiological as well as neurological predilections. Cognitive understanding deals with the thoughts of the individual and hence the mind process which is imperative to grasp the situation and thinking aptitude of others. Mind processes helps an individual to take hold of or grapple industrial organization, move of the competitor, getting ahead in the augmenting competition, designing curriculum, learning temperament, memory skill enhancement to survive in the mounting competition. The most imperative characteristic of mental process and behavior predisposition is unconscious motives, childhood experiences, conflicts, developmental issues responsible for a congenial and intellectual development that paves the behavior of the individual (Web: Simply Psychology). Learning is comparatively enduring alteration in actions and is the product of experience. Classical conditioning is a kind of learning process where correlation is established between neutral stimulus as well as stimulus that elicits the reaction. E.g. Pavlov's experiment. Pavlovian conditioning encompasses an understanding about a neutral stimulus (NS), unconditioned stimulus (UCS) when both are combined unconditional response (UCR) is elicited. This is an elicitation for conditioned stimulus (CS) and conditioned response (CR). The most vital component of the learning comprise alterations that an organism witnesses to the US and not to CS as unconditioned stimulus is a reflex phenomenon and is associated with the biology, but learning phenomenon involves the modulation from US to CS, attributed to behavioural as well as physiological conditions (Mcleod, 2008). Learning is conditioning that involves memory, anxiety and understanding; conditioning activates adaptive behavior that prepares an individual for happenings and enable one to apply past experiences to overcome the misleading notions (Web: Classical Conditioning, n.d.). There is a phase of extinction when the association between the unconditioned stimulus (UCS), and conditioned stimulus (CS) is broken or when the individual tries to refrain from places which generates conditioned stimulus (CS) (Web: Learning, n.d.). In the present scenario it becomes imperative to understand the connectivity between US and CS as it is the most essential characteristic feature of the psychologist; to understand the attitude as well as propensity of the individual. As an individual matures, perception and understanding about the circumstances and situations also augments. Some may have the intellect to understand, others learn about the nature and circumstances, react to an event in the varied manner (Web: Classical Conditioning, n.d.). In classical conditioning, conditioned stimulus (CS) is likely to induce parallel responses called stimulus generalization. This aids in maintaining classical conditioning and makes it difficult for the individual to overcome the classical conditioning (Web: Learning, n.d.). I developed classical conditioning, when I ate burger for the first time. I became sick and suffered with amoebiasis. However, I developed an aversion for the food and feel disgusted on every occasion I smell it. As nausea is an involuntary response, the aversion I developed is an illustration of classical conditioning. Here, burger was a neutral stimulus (NS), sickness is unconditioned stimulus (US), amoebiasis is an unconditional response (UCR). The smell of the burger is now the conditioned stimulus for me (CS) and nausea is conditioned response (CR). Although conditioning plays a vital role in initiating adaptive behavior, learning transpires through dealings with the surroundings, moreover, environment figures behavior of the individual and hence mental states encompassing sensations and contemplations cannot be considered as a part of learning. In the present scenario it becomes imperative to understand the connectivity between US and CS as it is the most essential characteristic feature of the psychologist; to understand the attitude as well as propensity of the individual (Web: Classical Conditioning, n.d.). Conditioned stimulus (CS) (in the present case, smell of burger), eventually induced parallel response called stimulus generalization. When I get the smell of pizza similar conditioned stimulus (CS) was generated which is due to stimulus generalization. Aversion to a particular taste is observed when eating a particular food stuff is followed by sickness (Burger in the present case). Thus, Pavlov's classical conditioning is marked as an imperative landmark in the history of conditioning behavior. It is the most vital aspect in understanding and modifying the behavior pattern of the individuals (Web: Classical Conditioning, n.d.). Conclusion In the present scenario it becomes imperative to understand the connectivity between US and CS as it is the most essential characteristic feature of the psychologist; to understand the attitude as well as propensity of the individual. As an individual matures, perception and understanding about the circumstances and situations also augments. Some may have the intellect to understand, others learn about the nature and circumstances, react to an event in the varied manner. In the present scenario where competition is hard-hitting and individuals are chip in a career race, an approach is desired where judgmental move toward attitude could be worked well. One has to be critical in displaying cognitive behavior towards enhanced memory power, quick and appropriate decision making temperament, organization of educational program to boost learning power. Darwin's theory is applicable in this aspect too "Survival of the fittest". Appendix (http://www.google.co.in/imgres?newwindow=198.04977416992187) References Classical Conditioning. (n.d.) Retrieved from http://web.mst.edu/~psyworld/classical_conditioning.htm. John B. Watson. (n.d.) Retrieved from http://www.muskingum.edu/~psych/psycweb/history/watson.htm. Learning (n.d.). Retrieved from http://highered.mcgraw-hill.com/sites/dl/free/0073532061/873807/SampleChapter06.pdf. McLeod, S. A. (2008). Classical Conditioning - Simply Psychology. Retrieved from http://www.simplypsychology.org/classical-conditioning.html. Simply Psychology. (n.d.) Retrieved from http://www.simplypsychology.org/psychodynamic.html. What is an Unconditioned Stimulus?. (n.d.) Retrieved from http://psychology.about.com/od/uindex/g/unconditioned.htm. What is a Conditioned Stimulus? (n.d.) Retrieved from http://psychology.about.com/od/cindex/g/condstim.htm. What is a Conditioned Taste Aversion? (n.d.) Retrieved from http://psychology.about.com/od/cindex/g/def_contasteav.htm. Read More