Conditioning Experiments

Conditioning experiments are studies that explore how behaviors can be learned through association. In classical conditioning, a neutral stimulus (like a bell) is paired repeatedly with an unconditioned stimulus (like food) that naturally causes a response (salivation). Over time, the neutral stimulus alone triggers the response, becoming a conditioned stimulus. In operant conditioning, behaviors are strengthened or weakened based on rewards or punishments. These experiments help us understand how behaviors develop and how associations form, revealing fundamental processes behind learning and habit formation.