Question

The particular conditioned responses that we observe in the Pavlovian conditioning situation are thought to be determined by a behavior system that evolved around important biological functions. Describe the concept of a behavior system and give an example of data that illustrates that a particular Pavlovian conditioned response is part of a larger behavior system.

Answer 1

Classical condition is learning through association. Pavlov developed the theory when he noticed the association of food and salivation by his dog whenever the dog sees the food. He further observed that the dog start salivating the moment he heard the footstep of the assistant who brings the foot. That means the dog has associated the noise of the footstep to food. Immediately after hearing the noise he would start salivating. The saliva secretion is the reflexive action when the dog sees the plate in which the food is served or the food.

He experimented with it by feeding the dog, a bell was sounded and immediately the food was served, it was repeated for a few days. It was observed after a few days that after hearing the bell the dog used to salivate although no food followed the sound of the bell. This showed that the dog is conditioned to the sound of the bell and the food and resulted in a new response that is salivation to the sound of the bell

Before the experiment when the bell was not associated

UCS (Unconditioned stimulus) =food

UCR (Unconditioned response) =Salivation

During conditioning

UCS = food, and bell

UCR= Salivation

when the dog is conditioned

CS conditioned stimulus = Bell

CR conditioned response = salivation

Salivation is a biological reflex action that is produced by hearing the sound of the bell or smell of the food.

The concept of behavior system can be seen on a larger scale in the cases of phobia, anger, nausea, and salivation by the smell of the food. It is used by the advertising agencies and the business person to sell their products.

The classical conditioning is used by the Advertisers to sell their products, they get customers the customers associate their products with a particular stimulus, for example, the fast-food seller would advertise the products that would photograph the product with a model enjoying the food with happy experience and satisfaction the platter would look beautiful, tasty and colorful. When the buyer sees the product, again and again, he is conditioned to it unconsciously and most probably he would turn out to be a prospective buyer.

The classical conditioning is used by the politicians as well they hammer the brain of the voters again and again and successfully create an image in their favor in return the voters' vote for them.