Classical Conditioning and how it is Demonstrated in Personal Life
Classical conditioning occurs when a learned association is made between two stimuli or events.
It is the repeated pairing of two stimuli until the presence or absence of one stimulus evokes the
expectation of the other stimuli (Dickinson, 1989). Sometimes, a single pairing is enough to
create an enduring association (DeHouwer, Thomas, Baeyens, 2001; Olson & Fazio, 2001;
Walther, 2002). The unconditioned stimulus (US) elicits an unconditioned response (UR). The
neutral stimulus (NS) elicits no conditioned response. By pairing an NS with the US, the NS first
elicits no reaction. After repeatedly pairing with the US, the NS becomes a conditioned stimulus
(CS). CS signals imminent US onset and induces a physical or emotional reaction which
becomes a conditioned response (CR) (Pavlov, 1927). The following subject illustrates an
example of classical conditioning in everyday life. At a young age, the subject contracted
stomach flu (US). The stomach flu (US) elicited an upset stomach (UR). Before the experience,
the oysters (NS) elicited no conditioned response. However, when the oysters were ingested, and
stomach flu (US) was contracted, the oysters (NS) became a conditioned stimulus (CS).
Signalling imminent stomach flu (US) onset and inducing nausea (CR). The subject, now
20-years-old, still feels nausea (CR) at the taste of oysters (CS). The type of conditioning that
occurred is conditioned taste aversion (CTA). CTA is a specialised form of learning that
facilitates the creation of associations that are essential for survival (i.e., taste and illness)
(Garcia, Kimeldorf, & Hunt, 1956). Novel food taste (CS) is associated with subsequent illness
(US) that has resulted from the ingestion of low-quality food. The goal of CTA is to prevent
subsequent ingestion of possible nausea-inducing foodstuff, thus enhancing survival. Studies
done by Garcia et al. (1956) demonstrated that learned taste aversions occurred with only a
single-pairing of the food taste with a nauseainducing agent. Additionally, it was reported that
Classical conditioning occurs when a learned association is made between two stimuli or events.
It is the repeated pairing of two stimuli until the presence or absence of one stimulus evokes the
expectation of the other stimuli (Dickinson, 1989). Sometimes, a single pairing is enough to
create an enduring association (DeHouwer, Thomas, Baeyens, 2001; Olson & Fazio, 2001;
Walther, 2002). The unconditioned stimulus (US) elicits an unconditioned response (UR). The
neutral stimulus (NS) elicits no conditioned response. By pairing an NS with the US, the NS first
elicits no reaction. After repeatedly pairing with the US, the NS becomes a conditioned stimulus
(CS). CS signals imminent US onset and induces a physical or emotional reaction which
becomes a conditioned response (CR) (Pavlov, 1927). The following subject illustrates an
example of classical conditioning in everyday life. At a young age, the subject contracted
stomach flu (US). The stomach flu (US) elicited an upset stomach (UR). Before the experience,
the oysters (NS) elicited no conditioned response. However, when the oysters were ingested, and
stomach flu (US) was contracted, the oysters (NS) became a conditioned stimulus (CS).
Signalling imminent stomach flu (US) onset and inducing nausea (CR). The subject, now
20-years-old, still feels nausea (CR) at the taste of oysters (CS). The type of conditioning that
occurred is conditioned taste aversion (CTA). CTA is a specialised form of learning that
facilitates the creation of associations that are essential for survival (i.e., taste and illness)
(Garcia, Kimeldorf, & Hunt, 1956). Novel food taste (CS) is associated with subsequent illness
(US) that has resulted from the ingestion of low-quality food. The goal of CTA is to prevent
subsequent ingestion of possible nausea-inducing foodstuff, thus enhancing survival. Studies
done by Garcia et al. (1956) demonstrated that learned taste aversions occurred with only a
single-pairing of the food taste with a nauseainducing agent. Additionally, it was reported that
