The Impact of Ivan Pavlov’s Studies on Psychology

Russian physiologist Ivan Pavlov initially studied a dog’s alimentary canal, only later to conduct quintessential scientific experiments reported as classical conditioning. Pavlov’s method of conditioning provides an exhibition of the correlation between conditional reflex and physiological operations. Subsequently, this journal provides an overview of what Pavlov’s research intended to document and the ultimate result of his experimentation. Found upon precise, empirical data, classical conditioning links environmental factors and actions logical for both the stimulus and response. Classical conditioning is an uncomplicated method of understanding the behavior of people and animals. A specific stimulus produces an expected response for learning by association Pavlovian conditioning: University

Unexpectedly, one day Pavlov curiously saw the dogs’ reaction to hearing the lab assistants dressed in lab coats coming with the food causing the dogs to salivate (Berger, 2009). Therefore, Pavlov hypothesized from monitoring the dogs that an interrelationship among the lab assistants wearing lab coats exists when presenting the dogs with food. Thereafter, the dog’s salivation produced the conditioned response (Berger, 2009). Progressing his study of the dog’s gastrointestinal tract, Pavlov administered miscellaneous types of stimuli (some non-edible and some edible). Approaching the dogs with food, Pavlov observed the animals instinctively salivating. Pavlov’s analysis inspired his hypothesis. Pavlov determined that ringing the bell in the absence of food' created no response. However, giving the dog food and ringing the bell at each feeding caused the dogs to salivate to the sound of the bell and ultimately he rang the bell paired with the presentation of the food, producing the dogs’ salivation to the bell. Ringing the bell before providing the food caused the dog’s conditioned response; the salivation (Pavlovian conditioning: University Library, n.d.).

During Pavlov’s studies, he discovered that the brain’s cerebral cortex initiates the conditional reflex. His concept of classical conditioning links two stimuli. A conditioned stimulus develops from the neutral stimulus when paired with the unconditioned stimulus. Following the repeated pairings, he saw the dogs salivating to a stimulus when not receiving food (Conditioned reflexes: An investigation of the physiological activity of the cerebral cortex, n.d.). Ivan Pavlov labeled the reaction a conditioned reflex from the learned response of the dogs. The dogs learn that the conditional reflex stimulus suggests that they would receive food, so they unconsciously salivate to the conditioned stimulus (Conditioned reflexes: An investigation of the physiological activity of the cerebral cortex, n.d.). It was Pavlov’s understanding the dogs salivated for the food or the bell, because it is a mechanical process. The reflex compulsively emerges when a specific stimulus prompts a reflex not under intentional power. Pavlov saw the dogs’ salivation in the absence of food or the smell of food. He rapidly realized that this salivary response was not because of a spontaneous, physiological process.

The intention of Pavlov’s classical conditioning research was to confirm that dogs can associate objective, independent phenomena while being conditioned unconsciously. He recognized that the response from his dogs was not because of an automatic, physiological process; It is a learned behavior. Using classical conditioning, Pavlov revealed the connection between physiology and psychology. Applying the perpetual process of learning, our environment has a different perception of how to interpret stimuli and inherently determines our behavior and interactions (Learning Theory, n.d.). The outcome of Pavlov’s experiments had a major influence on the discipline of psychology. Pavlov’s work in conditioning shows techniques in objectivity and a scientific method of studying reactions to the environment. Ivan Pavlov’s experimentation had an extraordinary impression on our knowledge of training humans or animals. Pavlov reveals how education transpires, therefore making significant contributions to the behavioral school of psychology.

Russian physiologist Ivan Pavlov initially studied a dog’s GI tract, only later to conduct essential scientific experiments reported as classical conditioning. Pavlov’s method of conditioning provides an illustration of the correlation between conditional reflex and physiological operations (Conditioned reflexes: An investigation of the physiological activity of the cerebral cortex, n.d.). Pavlov’s concept of classical conditioning exhibits linking two stimuli for humans or mammals. A conditioned stimulus develops from the neutral stimulus. Ivan Pavlov’s experimentation had an extraordinary impression on our knowledge of training humans or animals. Pavlov reveals how education transpires making significant contributions to the behavioral school of psychology (Conditioned reflexes: An investigation of the physiological activity of the cerebral cortex, n.d.). Pavlov’s works influenced behaviorist John Watson’s (Behaviorism) works cited Pavlov becoming integral in forming the foundation of behavioral psychology. B. F. Skinner discovered that operant conditioning connects a voluntary behavior with positive or negative reinforcement to lessen or increase the desired behavior. Pavlovs work was a starting point for behaviorism. However, Pavlov’s Classical conditioning can be used for behavioral modification or psychological concerns such as anxiety, phobias, panic disorders, and mental health therapies (Pavlovian conditioning: University Library, n.d.).