One of the following experiments by Pavlov had shown an association between stimulus and response i.e. through pairing of conditional stimulus with an unconditional stimulus which gave response?

Appeared in: RUHS, Jaipur, M.Sc Nursing Entrance Exam-2015

Explanation

The question describes the exact process of classical conditioning, also known as Pavlovian conditioning.
This learning process occurs when a neutral stimulus (which will become the conditioned stimulus) is repeatedly paired with an unconditioned stimulus that naturally elicits a response.
After several pairings, the neutral stimulus alone begins to trigger the response, which is now called the conditioned response.
Pavlov's famous experiment with dogs, bells, and food is the foundational example of this principle.

Why Other Options Were Wrong

Option A: Operant conditioning is incorrect because it involves learning through consequences (reinforcement and punishment) that follow a voluntary behavior, not the pairing of an involuntary response with a neutral stimulus.
Option C: Conditional reinforcement is a component of operant conditioning. It describes how a neutral object, like money or tokens, can become a reinforcer by being associated with a primary reinforcer (like food or comfort). It is not the overarching learning theory described.
Option D: Autonomic responses, such as salivation, heart rate, or sweating, are the physiological reactions that are often measured in classical conditioning experiments. This term describes the type of response, not the learning process itself.

Related Visual

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Learning Theories: Classical Conditioning as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Nurses frequently observe classical conditioning in patients, most notably as anticipatory nausea and vomiting (ANV) in individuals receiving chemotherapy.
In this context, the hospital, the smell of antiseptic, or the sight of a nurse (Conditioned Stimuli) become associated with the chemotherapy drugs (Unconditioned Stimulus), leading to nausea (Conditioned Response) even before the treatment begins.
What if? If a patient reports feeling sick upon entering the hospital, the nurse should recognize this as a potential conditioned response. The intervention would shift from only treating post-chemotherapy nausea to also managing the anticipatory symptoms through behavioral strategies like relaxation, distraction, or systematic desensitization.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key terms in the question: 'Pavlov', 'association between stimulus and response', and 'pairing of conditional stimulus with an unconditional stimulus'.
Recognize that 'Pavlov' is the psychologist most famously associated with a specific type of learning.
The description of pairing stimuli to create a new response is the definition of classical conditioning.
Evaluate the options based on this understanding. 'Operant conditioning' is linked to B.F. Skinner and consequences, not Pavlov and stimulus pairing.
'Conditional reinforcement' is a sub-concept of operant conditioning.
'Autonomic responses' are the reactions, not the learning process. Therefore, 'Classical conditioning' is the only correct fit.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Learning Theories: Classical Conditioning
Stem keywords: Pavlov, experiment, association, stimulus, response, conditional stimulus, unconditional stimulus
Lead-in keywords: one of the following
Negative lead-in flag: false

Question ID

Q8ertjU2rToe9Z2q6mgUGg

Reference Book

E6 Kaplan Sadock's Synopsis of Psychiatry-2022 (pp 1-3768 of 3768) p. 3182-3184

E6 Robert Boland, Marcia L. Verduin - Kaplan and Sadock's Comprehensive Text of Psychiatry-Wolters Kluwer Health (2024) (pp 1-16525 of 16525) p. 12649-12651

E6 Psychology Morgan King 9e Part 1 p. 157-159

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